OHS-Working From Home

It was recently reported in the news that a company was forced to pay an employee a large amount of compensation after she slipped while working at home. This is an example of why it is absolutely vital that employers consult closely with workers when allowing them to work from home.  

Agreed procedures must be put into writing particularly in regards to hours of work and access which may include procedures such as checking that the workplace is safe and that safe systems of work are in place. 

An assessment of the workplace assessment is a way to identify health and safety hazards, and to deal with them appropriately. This assessment should only be conducted by an  appropriately trained person. The individual undertaking the assessment should focus their attention on the specific part of the home which is being used as a workplace.

The following is a checklist compiled by WorkCover Australia that outlines some of the issues that must be considered when working from home. 

• Establish whether the duties are suitable from work from home
  Some jobs can be done safely by a person working from home. Some jobs can only be done safely by using special equipment or by following working procedures which are not appropriate for home base work.
  
  
• Establish what, if any, equipment will be necessary for an employee to safely undertake home based work
  For example, is there a suitable desk, chair and computer? Is any other equipment or machine that the person may need to use suitable for the work involved? Is there a first aid kit? NSW Regulations require that all places of work have a first aid kit. A basic (type C) kit is sufficient for most home-based work situations)
  
  
• Establish that the proposed working environment is healthy and safe
  For example, is there sufficient lighting? Are exits from the work area kept clear? Does a smoke detector and/or an earth leakage protection device need to be installed in the room where the person will be working? Are there sufficient powerpoints (overloaded powerpoints are a fire hazard)?
  
  
• Establish that the person who will be working from home has the information and training necessary to do the work safely
  For example, are home workers who are using computer equipment familiar with safe working procedures to prevent the occurrence of overuse injuries? When assessing training needs keep in mind that the person working from home will be working with less supervision, and may therefore need more comprehensive training to perform the work safely.
  
  
• Establish agreed hours of work and communications procedures
  Establish the days and hours on which work from home can be done and agree on procedures for recording work hours, including actual starting and finishing times (this is important for workers compensation purposes). It is also useful to establish the way in which performance will be monitored and assessed and to establish communication procedures to ensure that appropriate information is passed between the person working from home and his or her co-workers and management.
  
  
• Revise your workplace rehabilitation program
  For example, you may wish to include a commitment to provision of suitable duties at the main workplace when this is necessary as a rehabilitation strategy, and to clarify arrangements for monitoring work from home rehabilitation programs.