Home Working

13 November 2024

Whilst working from home has been the norm for some, in recent years it has become commonplace for many.

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 numbers 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.

Legal requirements

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 law. Essentially, you have the same responsibilities for staff working at home as for those in the office. General duties are set out in the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) 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 Display Screen Equipment Regulations. These apply where staff regularly use computers, laptops (and other similar equipment) as a significant part of their normal work – i.e. daily, generally for continuous periods of an hour or more.

Here, you must:

complete workstation risk assessments, reviewing these if there is a significant change or they are no longer valid

implement adequate precautions to reduce any risks based upon 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 Regulations for Electricity, Use of Work Equipment, Manual Handling of Loads and First-Aid.

Hazards to look out for

Typical hazards include those associated with:

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

*Note: this list is not exhaustive

Precautions you can take

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