Home working in Australia has seen a significant rise, especially in the wake of the pandemic. With hybrid and homeworking becoming the new norm, it’s crucial as a business owner to prioritise health and safety for your remote employees.

Taking care of your staff working from home isn’t just a legal obligation; it’s also a moral and business must-have. You must navigate various health and safety regulations to create a safe and productive work environment, regardless of where your employees are located.

What are the safety laws on working from home?

When it comes to health and safety for employees working from home, several key pieces of legislation govern your responsibilities as an employer in Australia.

Model Work Health and Safety Act

Work health and safety (WHS) laws apply when workers work from home just as they do in traditional workplaces such as offices. This means a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure the health and safety of their workers, so far as is reasonably practicable, when working from home.

How to meet your WHS duty

A range of issues need to be considered before work is done from home and you may need to change how work is done (e.g. how you manage and organise the work, or what tasks are involved). Working from home may change WHS risks or create new ones. It may also impact how you meet your WHS duties (e.g. how you consult with workers, identify hazards or implement control measures). Homes and living arrangements vary, and so do the risks.

Consulting workers

You must consult workers in the following instances:

• When it so far as is reasonably practicable, with workers about WHS issues that may affect them.

• When identifying hazards and working out how to control risks, including how you will monitor workplace conditions. You must consult workers

• Before starting work from home arrangements or making other changes.

Effective consultation is important because workers will often be the only person aware of the risks associated with their home working environment. You may also need their help to identify and assess the risks and identify and implement control measures. If workers are represented by a health and safety representative (HSR) you must include them in consultation arrangements on health and safety matters.

Best practices for home working laws

To keep your business compliant with these laws, you may want to consider consulting with health and safety experts. Services like BrightSafe offer 24/7 access to health & safety consultants and a library of online health and safety e-learning courses, making compliance a breeze.

What are the challenges of health & safety when working from home?

Managing health and safety for employees working from home presents several unique challenges, including:

Lack of direct oversight

Without the ability to directly oversee employees in their home environments, you may find it difficult to ensure that health and safety standards are consistently met. This lack of visibility can make it challenging to identify and address potential hazards promptly.

Variability in home office setups

Home office setups can vary widely from one employee to another. Some may have dedicated office spaces with ergonomic furniture, while others might be working from kitchen tables or sofas. This variability makes it harder to standardise health and safety measures across the workforce.

Identifying and mitigating risks

Several risks are associated with home working, including:

• Poor ergonomics: Inadequate workstation setups can lead to musculoskeletal issues, eye strain, and other health problems.

• Mental health concerns: Remote working can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation, stress, and burnout, which can impact your teams’ wellbeing.

• Electrical safety: Ensuring that home office equipment is safe and properly maintained is another challenge, as employees may use personal devices that haven’t been safety-checked.

Addressing these challenges requires a proactive approach, including regular risk assessments, providing ergonomic guidelines, and offering mental health support.

Practical steps you can take to meet your health and safety responsibilities

To effectively manage health and safety for homeworking employees, consider the following practical steps:

Conducting risk assessments

Perform risk assessments for home offices to identify potential hazards. This can be done through self-assessment forms that employees fill out or via virtual consultations with health and safety professionals.  

Alternatively, you could use health and safety software that comes with 600+ risk assessment templates that save time and help you meet your legal obligations for hundreds of different risks.

Providing ergonomic guidelines

Offer clear guidelines on ergonomics and proper home-office setup. This includes advice on screen positioning, seating posture and lighting to prevent issues like musculoskeletal problems and eye strain. Providing visual aids or instructional videos can be particularly helpful.

Offering mental health support

Support employees’ mental health wellbeing by offering access to mental health resources, such as an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). This can be counselling services, stress management workshops, and regular check-ins to ensure employees feel supported and connected.

Ensuring access to equipment

Make sure employees have access to necessary equipment to meet safety standards. This might include ergonomic chairs, adjustable decks, external monitors, and other accessories that promote a safe and comfortable working environment. Providing a stipend or reimbursement for home office equipment can also be beneficial.

Meeting your compliance obligations with staff working from home

Leveraging software solutions can significantly streamline the process of managing health and safety for homeworking employees. Here are some key tools you can use to keep staff safe and your business compliant:

Risk assessment tools

Using digital risk assessment tools, employees can conduct self-assessments of their home-working environments. These tools help identify potential hazards and automatically track compliance, making sure that near misses and accidents are flagged and addressed promptly.

Employee monitoring and training

Learning management solutions can offer reminders, check-ins, and training modules on safe work practices. These tools ensure that employees are regularly updated on health & safety protocols and easily access training resources to maintain a safe working environment.

Health and safety reporting platforms

Accident and near-miss reporting software allows employees to report health and safety concerns remotely make it easier for employers to respond promptly. These systems facilitate the reporting of accidents, near misses, and other safety issues, ensuring that they are documented and addressed in a timely manner.

Wellbeing software

Wellbeing apps and platforms monitor employee wellbeing, track work hours, and provide mental health support and resources. These tools help business owners keep an eye on their employees’ mental and physical health, offering support where needed to maintain overall wellbeing.

Get 24/7 support with managing health and safety for your remote team

You have just as much a role in ensuring the health & safety of homeworking staff as any other staff. This includes conducting regular risk assessments, providing ergonomic guidelines, offering mental health support, and ensuring access to the right equipment.

Actively managing these responsibilities is essential to create a safe and productive working environment.

To make this process easier, BrightSafe offers comprehensive support. Our solutions include 24/7 access to health & safety consultants, digital risk assessment tools, and a library of expert online training courses. These tools help you stay compliant with regulations and ensure the wellbeing of your remote workforce.

Book a demo with one of our friendly experts or call us on 1 300 029 198 to discover how BrightHR and our BrightSafe health & safety software could help your business.