WHS Obligations for Employers with Remote/Hybrid Workers

Did you know that in 2023, 37% of Australians worked from home regularly? [Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics] Remote or hybrid work models have become the norm since the COVID-19 pandemic which presents unique health and safety concerns for employers. Certex writes.

All employers have a legal responsibility for the safety of their workers, both internal staff and contractors, regardless of their working location. This means labour hire agencies have the same duty of care towards contractors working from home as they do when at host client sites.

Common hazards associated with working from home:

SafeWork Australia and Comcare have identified a few common hazards associated with workers working from home in computerbased roles. These hazards include:

• Inadequate lighting

• Poor working environment

• Lack of electrical safety

• Slip and trip hazards

• Poor ventilation

• Poor workstation set up

• Poor role clarity

• Isolation Fatigue

Unlike in a traditional office setting, home and living arrangements will vary from worker to worker, as will the risks.

Therefore, employers must consult with workers to properly assess the individual risks of each home workspace.

An effective step of this process would be to mandate your workers to complete a work from home checklist before they start working from home, so that you are aware of their working conditions and potential risks.

Control Measures

Now that you recognise common risks with working from home in computer-based roles, let’s explore control measures to minimise their impact.

• Type of work and role clarity: Provide proper guidance on tasks and ensure they are equipped to perform tasks assigned meeting deadlines.

• Equipment: Provide equipment that is necessary to perform their tasks safely.

• Communication: Create a clear communication structure. Regularly communicate with workers and ensure that they can communicate with each other.

• Support work-life balance: Encourage workers to create a dedicated workspace at home and take regular breaks.

• Create a digital workspace: Promote collaboration to help workers interact with each other and reduce isolation.

Source: SafeWork Australia, Comcare

Setting up a safe workstation

A properly set-up workstation can minimise most physical risks associated with working from home in computer-based roles.

Key factors to consider include:

• Choosing a distraction-free dedicated space

• Equipment doesn’t have to be packed away at the end of the day.

• Suitable lighting with minimal glare

• Comfortable workspace that is neither too hot nor too cold

Worker Obligations

Workers also have WHS duties to comply with when working from home.

These include:

• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety.

• Cooperate with WHS procedures and instructions provided

• Reporting any changes in the home workspace

Check for compliance with Certex iSafe.

Certex iSafe assessments can help you stay compliant. Our independent assessors can perform workplace assessments and help assess and identify gaps in your WHS obligations towards workers working from home.