A common mistake employers make is thinking that they are not responsible for the health and safety of employees working from home. Despite hybrid and remote working now being a common practice for many companies, many managers are unsure of their legal and ethical responsibilities for remote employees. Even if an employee is working remotely, you still have a duty of care under health and safety laws. We will break down the responsibilities, practical steps, and tools for ensuring home-based employees are safe and healthy.
The law
Under the UK’s Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers are responsible for employees’ health, safety, and welfare “so far as reasonably practicable, including remote work”.
Common health and safety risks of working from home
There are a range of common risks to health and safety when working from home that employers need to consider.
Physical
- Poor ergonomics – Some employees do not have a proper office set up when working from home, with many working from sofas, kitchen tables or even beds. This can place a constant strain on the spine, shoulders and neck.
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI) – caused by prolonged, repetitive computer use, and it is one of the most common health risks to those who work from home.
- Eye strain – causing headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue.
- Back pain – caused by poor ergonomics, lack of movement, stress and muscle tension, and poor screen set up.
Mental health
- Isolation – caused by lack of face-to-face interaction and reduced casual office conversations with colleagues.
- Stress and burnout – caused by increased workloads, constant digital connectivity, and reduced opportunities for social support or informal breaks.
- Difficulty maintaining work-life balance – caused by blurred boundaries and pressures to be ‘always on’.
Environmental
- Poor lighting – can cause eye strain, headaches, fatigue, and reduced focus.
- Trip hazards – loose cables, cluttered walkways or uneven flooring can increase the risk of falls and injuries.
- Inadequate workspace – things such as a cramped desk, unsuitable chair, or lack of proper equipment, can lead to poor posture, musculoskeletal pain, decreased productivity, and overall discomfort for employees.
Considerations to manage the risks
Risk assessments and guidance
- Conduct risk assessments for home workers. However, it is not necessary to visit all your employees’ homes to assess the risk of them working there. Instead, you may provide simple self-assessment checklists to your employees to complete.
- Be aware that risks can change over time, so it is important to review regularly.
Equipment & Guidance
- Ensure employees are using safe equipment and an adequate workspace whilst they work from home.
- Consider providing ergonomic chairs, standing desks, or laptop stands.
- Offer guidance on the set-up of a home office as well as on breaks, posture, and ergonomics (monitor height, chair support, keyboard/mouse setup).
Work routines
- Encourage regular breaks, movement, and mental health check-ins.
- Promote work-life balance, emphasising the importance of logging off and drawing the line between work and home life.
Policies and procedures
- Create clear remote-work health & safety policies.
- Have a clear procedure for reporting incidents, injuries or concerns.
Training & Support
- Provide online health and safety training for remote work.
- Offer health resources and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).
- Train managers to recognise signs of stress or burnout amongst staff.
- Promote regular virtual team catch-ups to reduce feelings of isolation.
How does oneSAFE help manage this?
Incident Log
Employees can log any accidents and near-misses that occur at home via oneSAFE. oneSAFE will then instantly notify the assigned H&S lead, helping you respond quickly, take corrective action, and create a safer workspace for your remote workers.
Document storage
Store and distribute policies and risk assessments relevant to working from home instantly on oneSAFE. Share by individual, team, or company-wide folders and request secure electronic signatures to confirm acknowledgement.
Book a demo to see how oneSAFE can support the health and safety of your employees working from home.
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