For some of us, working from home is not unusual. However, due to recent events (COVID-19) this has led to an increase in people working from home. Whether working from home is a temporary measure or long term adjustment, it is important that your workstation and working environment is one which is good and safe for you.
Although there is no increased risk from using display screen equipment (DSE) when temporarily working from home, these arrangements should be regularly discussed with employees to establish any health, safety and wellbeing concerns that may arise due to these arrangements. It is important as employers that you take reasonable precautions to assist in managing staff wellbeing when employees are working at home, whilst at the same time not interfering in personal affairs. This can be achieved by providing workstation checklists that can be assessed by the employee.
In addition to this regular DSE assessment reviews should be completed to determine if the current arrangements are appropriate and/or if any changes are needed
For employees who have either long term adjustments or even permanent changes to their working environment, employers should explain or assist in completing a full workstation assessment and provide equipment/advice on the control measure identified.
Setting up a good workspace
If the employee is working more often from home, then they should ideally choose one room as their office. This reduces physical intrusion into the home, helps keep domestic interruptions to a minimum and reduces risks to other people at home (for example young children). If the room is lockable, so much the better as it improves the security of your equipment and data.
You should also be careful about choosing attics and cellars, because these spaces often have limited access, poor temperature or ventilation control and a lack of natural light. General health and safety hazards need to be considered by both the employer and the worker because employers have little direct control over the home workplace.
You should apply similar furniture and equipment standards to a home workstation as you would in an office. These should be ergonomically designed to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal problems.
There are several risk factors that should be considered in order to complete a thorough assessment. The examples below consist of some of the risk factors and suggested ways of managing them;
Keyboards: Technique of the user, condition of the keyboard (legible characters, cleanliness)
Mouse/Trackball: Suitability and positioning of the equipment, limb support and system settings
Display Screens: Brightness, equipment specification, text size/screen cleanliness, swivel and tilt, glare and reflection.
Software: Suitability
Furniture – Workspace, laptops, accessibility, seating and posture
Environment- Movement, lighting, air, temperature and noise
Mental Wellbeing
Some people may find it difficult to adapt to working in an environment with limited social interaction and others may find time management a struggle.
It’s important to maintain good communication systems and formal means of contact with remote/work from home workers to minimise feelings of isolation. How you do this will depend on the number of workers you’re dealing with and what they’re doing, but employees and employers should:
Employees
Employers:
Take regular breaks:
Often people assume people that work from home don’t work as hard, however, it is hard for them to switch off between home and work life. Taking regular, scheduled breaks and a clear start and finish time of work can reduced work related stresses that arise from this change in environment.
If you need any further advice on working from home please contact us