Telecommuting is on the rise with advances in computer communications. Employees now regularly work off-site in all types of jobs. While this flexible arrangement benefits both the employer and the employee, there are drawbacks when it comes to job safety.
Employees working at home face job hazards just like any other worker. However, they are working with no supervision and where the employer has little control.
Just how unsafe can the home environment be? Hazards vary widely depending on the type of job, but may include solvents found in paints and thinners, injury by machinery or tools, fire, back injuries from lifting, and repetitive stress injuries from typing at a computer for hours without a break.
Here are steps your company can take to minimize off-site injuries:
1. Home Work Policy–Draft a work agreement that includes:
- Defining a separate work area in the home
- Stating that at-home work is not a right of the employee, but is done at the will of the employer and can be terminated at any time.
- Clarifying who provides and maintains the work equipment used by the employee
- Determining anticipated work hours.
2. Safety Inspection–Someone from the company should come to the home and perform a safety inspection and ergonomic analysis if necessary. Schedule regular maintenance inspections of equipment.
3. Safety Training–Provide safety training either at the house or at the company’s worksite. Give the employee a self-inspection checklist and list of safety precautions for the home office.
4. Accident Reporting–Make sure employees report all work-related accidents at home. Provide on-line or hard copy reports to file.
5. Communication–Communicate frequently with your home-based workers by telephone or e-mail.