{"id":1886,"date":"2020-04-02T11:43:11","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T10:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrteam.ie\/?p=1886"},"modified":"2022-09-30T11:06:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T10:06:50","slug":"essential-guide-for-a-home-working-risk-assessment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrteamservices.com\/en\/essential-guide-for-a-home-working-risk-assessment\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential guide for a home working risk assessment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Employers in both Ireland and the UK have specific duties to ensure the safety, health and welfare of all workers \u2013 even when employees are working remotely.<\/p>\n<p>The outbreak of Covid-19 and the current campaign of self-isolation to stop it&#8217;s spread has led to a huge increase in working from home.<\/p>\n<p>Employers are required to show the same duty of care for their employees when they are working off premises.<\/p>\n<p>This covers the provision of supervision, training, education and the implementation of sufficient control measures to protect the homeworker. The employer has liability for an accident or injury of a homeworker.<\/p>\n<p>Safe Team has created a home working risk assessment guide for your employees. The key areas covered are as follows:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Desk area<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Employees must have an adequate working space from which to work comfortably.<\/li>\n<li>There should be sufficient space beneath employees\u2019 desks to allow them to stretch their legs.<\/li>\n<li>All trailing electrical cables around the employees\u2019 working areas must be safely secured.<\/li>\n<li>Employers must ensure the working area is warm, well-lit and well-ventilated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Display screen set-up <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure the desk chair is set up correctly to provide lower back support, armrests and allow feet to rest flat on the floor.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure sufficient desk space to work comfortably at so as that the upper body is not twisted or strained when reaching for something.<\/li>\n<li>Adjust display screen to eye level so as not to cause discomfort for the neck and head.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid a glare from a window or light by positioning display screens accordingly, ensuring the employees do not strain their eyes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Fire and electrical safety <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Smoke detectors must be checked to ensure they are working correctly.<\/li>\n<li>Regularly dispose of waste, including paper to prevent a build-up of \u2018fire fuel\u2019.<\/li>\n<li>Remove from use, any electrical equipment that sparks or has burn marks.<\/li>\n<li>Remove any damaged or frayed wires.<\/li>\n<li>Regularly inspect equipment to check for signs of wear and tear.<\/li>\n<li>Switch off equipment when not in use.<\/li>\n<li>Have emergency arrangements in place in case of fire.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Stress and welfare <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Employees should take regular breaks from their workstations and stretch regularly to avoid still or sore muscles.<\/li>\n<li>Employees should have provision to sit with good posture to avoid hunching over.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure there is an adequate provision of first aid.<\/li>\n<li>If workers regularly use a computer, it is recommended they have an annual eye test.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Manual Handling <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Have all items for work within easy reach.<\/li>\n<li>Store heavy items on lover shelves to avoid the need for lowering them.<\/li>\n<li>Train all employees to correctly pick up, carry and lower heavy items.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Slips, trips and falls <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ensure floor coverings such as carpets and rugs are secure.<\/li>\n<li>Clear stairways and corridors of trip hazards.<\/li>\n<li>Employees must clear the floor area around their desk of boxes, papers and wires.<\/li>\n<li>Extra caution should be advised to reduce trips if hot drinks and food are to be carried upstairs\/downstairs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Lone working <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Employees must have a name and number of a manager or supervisor to get in touch with to report if an accident occurs.<\/li>\n<li>Set up systems to regularly \u2018check in\u2019 with your employee if they are not visibly online each day.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure your home is kept secure against intruders while employees are working there.<\/li>\n<li>Keep important files and laptops secure when not in use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Safe Team can offer practical advice and support to employers on best practices in health and safety. For more information, please contact us. NI\/UK:\u00a0<a href=\"tel:+442871271882\">+44 2871 271882<\/a> and Ireland:\u00a0<a href=\"tel:+35316950749\">+353 1 695 0749<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Employers in both Ireland and the UK have specific duties <a href=\"https:\/\/hrteamservices.com\/en\/essential-guide-for-a-home-working-risk-assessment\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-health-and-safety"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Essential guide for a home working risk assessment | HR Team NI &amp; UK<\/title>\n<meta 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