A FACTORY worker from Hereford says her bosses didn't stop her using noxious glue while pregnant even though the substance may be harmful to unborn children.

Expectant mother Tetyana Kyryk told the Hereford Times she believes her baby's health problems, which included young Lucas requiring open heart surgery at 11-days-old, were a result of the exposure while working at Polytec Car Styling Limited in Bromyard.

The 30-year-old took the firm to an employment tribunal after claiming she was discriminated against while pregnant.

She says she suffered "stress and anxiety" as a result of the treatment which also included disciplinary measures, including a final written warning, for unauthorised absences on days she attended antenatal appointments.

Miss Kyryk and her partner, Steve Preece, say they believe their son's health problems are a result of the glue exposure and the stress she underwent during the pregnancy, although there is no medical evidence to back this up and it won't be considered by the tribunal panel.

"Overall, whether or not it was because of any additional time off that I needed because of my pregnancy, all of my absences from my workplace because of antenatal tests and care were routinely treated by Polytec as unauthorised absences," said Miss Kyryk in a witness statement submitted to the tribunal, which sat at Hereford Magistrates' Court.

After appointments in Hereford, she said she struggled to return to work as she relied on colleagues to get her from her Victoria Park home in Hereford to Bromyard and back.

She says she agreed with supervisors to have the day off but they said there were times they expected her back at work after appointments.

The tribunal heard it took two months for a new risk assessment for Miss Kyryk to be drawn up after she told Polytec she was expecting.

The claimant, who worked as a production operative, is still employed at Polytec but is currently on maternity leave. She said the experience was a "very sad and stressful time".

"I felt as if I was on the brink of being dismissed for a long time," she said.

Polytec's human resources manager, Joanne Howard, said two risk assessment appointments had to be cancelled before one took place.

She said she didn't believe the employee was ever at risk but admitted the risk assessment should have been done sooner.

Mrs Howard also said the firm had no problem with employees taking time off to attend antenatal appointments.

"The issue we have is that she did not turn up for the rest of her shift," she said.

"There was no reason she should not turn up for shifts in the afternoon if her appointments were in the morning.

"The warnings she received were not for her appointments."

Regarding use of the glue, supervisor Sean Sewell said: "If they [staff] have any problems then they should come to me and I will sort it out."

The tribunal, headed by Judge David Kearsley, adjourned returning a verdict until later this month.