We are now seeing a trend for “hybrid” working; part working from the office and part working from home.
Employers are required to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees who work from home.
Unless staff have their own home office they will typically be working at a laptop or desk top from a dining table and sitting on a kitchen chair. This can lead to musculo-skeletal issues resulting in reduced performance and absenteeism.
A risk assessment should be carried out ideally before homeworking can be approved. Companies need to clarify what will happen if the risk assessment identifies concerns, including who will make and pay for changes to bring the home up to standard, and what timescale will be allowed.
As consultants in DSE Assessments, we offer a bespoke Homeworkers DSE Self Assessment Form that will highlight any issues before they become potential problems. This form can be customised with your Company logo and branding.
We now offer one to one virtual DSE Sessions on Zoom where we can observe the employee working from home and make any necessary recommendations whether it relates to hardware or posture. Zoom sessions can be done from the client’s mobile phone or other device such a tablet or laptop.
