Adjusting safety to the new way of working

The world is changing, and recent events have redefined what’s important to living a happy life for many people. In addition, technology has advanced, and many of us are now interested in either working from home or creating a hybrid work model where we divide our time between working in the office and working from home.

Both types of work have advantages and disadvantages, but what you decide will not always work best for everyone. However, your duty of care as an employer to your people and their responsibilities do not alter and need to be assessed.

To ensure a smooth and safe transition to homeworking, you must engage with your team to assess their suitability for working at home. We would generally classify working from home as low-risk, but addressing health and safety issues is essential to ensure you comply with your legal obligations and maintain your team’s wellbeing.

Here’s a list of our top health and safety-focused considerations for working from home:

Workstation setup

• Guide the individuals on setting up a suitable workstation (desk, chair, monitor height, keyboard placement).
• Provide a virtual check-in or self-assessment checklist to evaluate the workspace safety.
• Where possible, offer ergonomic equipment (adjustable chairs, standing desks, footrests).

Electrical safety

• Ensure the home workspace is free from hazards such as loose cables, clutter, or unstable furniture.
• Emphasise maintaining a clean and organised workspace to prevent accidents.
• Remind those working from home to check electrical equipment (laptops, chargers, etc.) is in good condition and used safely.
• Encourage the use of surge protectors and regular inspection of cables and equipment.

Mental health and wellbeing

• Monitor the mental health of remote workers to ensure they’re not facing burnout or isolation.
• Stress must be addressed to ensure you provide the same support to those working from home as those in the office.
• Encourage a healthy work-life balance by setting clear boundaries for working hours.
• You may need extra effort to continue your day-to-day contact with homeworking employees.

Training and awareness

• Provide health and safety training specific to working from home, including best practices for workstation setup and injury prevention.
• Make sure all team members know your health and safety policies and procedures while working remotely.
• Provide resources or training on proper ergonomics to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
• Update staff on relevant legislation regarding home working, ensuring compliance with health and safety laws.

Regular check-ins

• Conduct regular virtual check-ins to identify any health and safety concerns or issues.
• Implement systems for employees to report health and safety risks in their home environment.
• Keep an open dialogue about physical and mental wellbeing and proactively address risks.

Risk assessments

• Develop action plans to mitigate any identified risks (e.g. ergonomic improvements, electrical safety, etc.).
• Conduct virtual or self-assessed risk assessments to identify potential hazards in home working setups.
• Update risk assessments regularly as work environments or employee circumstances change.

One key to a fulfilling life is finding the right work-life balance, which flexible working can provide.

Working from home may not be suitable for everyone. However, with minor alterations, most homeworking spaces can be assessed and adapted to provide a safe working environment for those who can.

If you need help figuring out where to start, get your team to complete a homeworking self-assessment form. This form will provide information on an individual’s suitability for working at home and flag whether it’s acceptable or if there are areas that need improvement.

Communication is the key to safety success in flexible working arrangements ­– without it, you won’t be fulfilling your health and safety duties as an employer.