Home working

Some staff may work at home permanently, having employment contracts that reflect this. Others may be allowed to adopt a hybrid approach, routinely spending some time in the office with the rest at home.

In many cases, this work is limited to general ‘office-type’ activity involving the use of desktop computers or laptops (sometimes referred to as display screen equipment). Here, the risks are usually low, and any precautions necessary should reflect this. The information in this note deals with this scenario.

Some homeworkers may need to use machinery or hazardous substances to complete their work. In these situations, additional precautions may be required to make sure they remain safe.

Any action you take needs to be proportionate depending on your own circumstances. This will reflect the size of your organisation, the number of staff you have, and the nature of the work completed at home. Involving staff, through any consultation channels you have established, will also help you identify any precautions you might need to consider.

If someone is injured, you may need to show that you have met your duty of care.

In addition to this, if you are an employer, you must comply with more specific health and safety laws. Essentially, you have the same responsibilities for staff working at home as for those in the office. General duties are set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

More specific health and safety regulations may also be relevant depending upon the nature of the work being completed. A specific example would be the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations. These apply where staff regularly use computers, laptops (and other similar equipment) as a significant part of their normal work, that is, daily, generally for continuous periods of an hour or more.

• Complete workstation risk assessments, reviewing these if there is a significant change or if they are no longer valid
• Implement adequate precautions to reduce any risks based on the assessments made
• Make sure that workstations meet specified standards
• Plan work so that users can take suitable breaks or change their activity as appropriate
• Provide eye and eyesight tests on request, and special spectacles if needed
• Provide appropriate information and training.

Other examples include the Electricity at Work Regulations, the Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations, the Manual Handling Operations Regulations and the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations.

Typical hazards include those associated with:

• the working environment, for example, insufficient lighting or space, or hazards that may result in slips or trips
• workstations, for example, insufficient leg room or clearance, lack of space, incorrectly adjusted chairs, inadequate space on desks
• the work itself, for example, lifting or carrying loads
• using display screen equipment, for example, using laptops without additional equipment, glare and reflections on the screen, using equipment without taking a break
• using electricity, for example, damaged electrical equipment
• using other work equipment, for example, damaged chairs, tables
• the working arrangements, for example, stress, working alone.*

*Note: this list is not exhaustive

Typical precautions include:

• Making sure that any work equipment provided remains in good repair
• Ensuring that workstations where display screen equipment is in use are correctly set up
• Providing information on how to use display screen equipment safely
• Avoiding the need to carry loads that may present a risk of injury
• Implementing arrangements to help staff avoid stress
• Introducing checks to make sure electrical equipment remains safe
• Making reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled staff or those with long-term health conditions.*

*Note: this list is not exhaustive