The UK workforce is awash with remote work. Working from home, whether it is part of a hybrid set-up or a completely remote role, offers flexibility but also brings with it new legal responsibilities, which many employers and workers may not be aware they have. Health and safety laws in the UK extend beyond the workplace and include your home.
Josh McNicholas, Health and Safety Expert from Evalu-8 EHS explains four unexpected health and security obligations UK employers have to comply with when employees work remotely.
Even in your living room, employers still have a duty of care
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The 1974 Act gives employers a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees, “to the extent that it is reasonably practicable”. This duty does not end at the door of the workplace! Your employer still has a responsibility to ensure that your home-based work is safe. This often involves conducting a risk analysis and offering guidance or adjustments. If you are working at the kitchen counter without a desk or chair, for example, your employer may be required to pay for a suitable office chair.
The Display Screen Equipment Regulations (DSE) apply to your home too
Health and Safety (Displayscreen Equipment) Regulations requires employers to minimize the health risks associated using screens for extended periods. Your employer must ensure that you have the correct setup for your computer or laptop at home if you use it daily. The screen height, chair support and keyboard and mouse position, as well as lighting, should be adjusted to the user’s needs. The employer must also provide training to employees on the safe use of DSE.
Employers Must Support Your Mental Well-being
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations require that employers assess and manage any health risks including stress. The isolation and blurred lines of WFH may affect well-being. Employers are encouraged to (and are in some cases, required to) take reasonable steps to promote mental health. This includes offering mental health resources, conducting periodic check-ins and maintaining reasonable working hours. Remote doesn’t mean invisible. Mental health obligations are still applicable!
Reporting Accidents at Home to RIDDOR
Many people are unaware that a serious injury sustained while working at home may have to be reported in accordance with RIDDOR. If, for example, someone is injured by a loose cable while walking to their office and it occurs during working hours, this may be an incident that needs to be reported. Employers must have a system in place to allow home workers who suffer an injury to report it. This should be done seriously even if they are miles away from their office.
The first time this post appeared was on HR News.
