What are the most common remote working hazards

Posted 24 hours ago

How our clients are using iHasco to adapt to remote working

Working remotely offers fantastic flexibility and convenience for your employees, but there are some potential Health and Safety hazards that you and your staff should be aware of. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the most common hazards of working from home, and provide some tips on how to eliminate these!

Working from home hazards your employees should look out for

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

This is a big hazard that should be tackled as early as possible. Whether it’s sitting in an uncomfortable chair or something else, it could eventually lead to numerous problems from back and neck pain to carpal tunnel syndrome. This is where ergonomics comes in (more on that later).

Slips, trips, and falls

They’re common in the workplace, and they’re common at home too. Trailing electrical cords and uneven surfaces are just a couple of working from home hazards. Promote a clean and organised workspace with effective cable management for your staff when they’re working remotely and it’ll reduce the risk of an injury.

Stress and burnout

Some workers may feel pressure when working from home to be as productive as possible 100% of the time. Encouraging your employees to take their breaks and try to disconnect from work-life outside of working hours can really help them to maintain a healthy balance and prevent burnout.

Loneliness and isolation

Social isolation is another one of the most common working from home hazards, especially for those who are working remotely permanently. The lack of social interaction can lead to staff feeling isolated and lonely, so to tackle this, why not schedule regular virtual meetings and team-building activities to connect your workforce?

Mental health issues

Existing mental health issues could impact the feelings of stress and social isolation mentioned above, which is why it’s crucial that you as an employer provide resources and support for mental health.

Eye strain, screens and lighting

Staring at a screen for long hours can cause eye fatigue, headaches and more. Encourage your staff to take short breaks away from their screens to prevent this. They could also reduce screen brightness and adjust the room lighting for a better work environment.

Faulty equipment

It’s important that the devices and equipment you provide to staff are safe and regularly checked. This is to prevent any risks like electric shocks or fires.

How to combat the hazards of working from home?

Training

Remote working training like Health and Safety Training for Homeworkers is an effective way to provide your staff with the knowledge to stay safe when working from home.

Risk assessment

This should be the first step. It helps to identify potential working from home hazards in everyone’s home so you can support them in making their environment suitable.

Ergonomics

Prevent MSDs by encouraging workers to set up dedicated workspaces with ergonomic chairs and equipment. This includes adjustable chairs, proper monitor positioning and more.

Healthy habits

Promote healthy work habits like taking regular breaks when working from home, stretching, and keeping good posture. These are just some ways to get your employees up and about so they’re not looking at a computer screen for too long.

Communication and support

There are plenty of ways you can communicate and support your staff while they’re working from home, such as:

Establish clear communication
Set boundaries for effective work-life balance
Encourage regular meetings with other employees for social interaction

Who is responsible for the Health and Safety of employees working from home?

Both you and your employees have a shared responsibility for Health and Safety when working remotely. As an employer, you should:

Provide risk assessment guidance
Support in setting up employees’ workspaces (equipment etc.)
Implement data security measures
Provide clear communication opportunities
Offer mental health resources and support

Remote working training with iHasco

Here at iHasco, we offer a range of accredited online training courses that have been built to help keep staff safe, happy, and productive whilst working remotely. Some of our most popular courses include:

We’re already helping thousands of organisations just like yours, and we’d like to help you too. Why not check out our range of courses for the care sector today by claiming your free, no-obligation trial? Alternatively, you can request a bespoke quote and we’ll be in touch to discuss your unique training requirements.