Return to work options for many organisations will incorporate an ongoing work from home arrangement. Working from home is more appropriate for your employees depending on the nature of the business, the facilities available for workers to work remotely, and the workers’ capacity to complete their work safely from home.
If your business has remote workers, ensure they have optimised their work from home setup. Because your environment has a major impact on your productivity and mood, it’s critical to be mindful of your surroundings. When setting up a home office, there is a multitude of elements to consider. To assist you in getting your employees’ home offices ready for productive and safe work, we’ve compiled a list of upgrades.
If you have workers that work from home, you must be aware of your company’s workplace health and safety duties. You must put in place suitable rules, policies, and procedures, as well as compliance training and safety checklists. Prior to the implementation of remote working arrangements, personnel must get proper training, induction, and education. Implementing a remote work safety checklist is a realistic technique to identify the dangers that workers may face. To guarantee compliance, regular monitoring and auditing are great.
Checklist
Work Environment
It is essential that any work environment is safe for everyone using the space. For example, the space should be free of trip hazards. Additionally, all electrical cords and wires should be neatly packed.
Does the space have enough lighting?
- Is it possible to limit glare and reflection?
- Can you independently manage ventilation and room temperature?
- Will the worker be disturbed by excessive noise?
- Is the area free of clutter and trip hazards, such as dangling electrical cords?
- Are potential risks in the home, such as hot cooking surfaces, separated from the workspace?
- Is there an open communication system in place between the employee and the manager?
- Are power outlets clogged as a result of duplicate adapters and power boards?
Setup of Workspace
A variety of characteristics contribute to the comfort of office furniture. As we grow more conscious of good office habits, workplace furniture is becoming more about employee wellbeing instead of appearances. Sitting incorrectly can cause a multitude of strains on our bodies, notably our spines. Employees may get backaches, neck problems, and arm aches. All of these factors can contribute to lower efficiency and an increase in sick days. It’s vital to have an ergonomic office chair that supports the lower back and encourages appropriate posture to avoid developing back problems.
Correct office chair ergonomics can help you remain comfortable while working. Because office employees spend most of their workday seated at their desks, choosing the right office chair is so important.
- Is there enough leg room under the workstation?
- Are the most commonly used objects easily accessible from a sitting position?
- Is your chair fully adjustable? This includes seat height, tilt, angle, and backrest.
- Is the chair’s foundation stable (ideally 5 star)?
- Is there enough lumbar support?
- Are the feet level on the floor or on a footrest, with the knees bent at right angles and the thighs parallel to the floor?
- Does the keyboard-to-user distance allow the user to relax their shoulders and keep their elbows near to their bodies?
- Is the keyboard in a flat position?
Other Work From Home Safety Factors
Sitting for long periods of time frequently causes lower back pain. Back muscles become compressed, which can cause back discomfort in some cases. The human body was created to move, not to sit for long periods of time. As a result, we recommend alternating between sitting and standing during the day.
We know that sitting all day is bad for our bodies and that standing up regularly can make you feel more energised and productive. It’s ideal if you can set a timer for every 30 to 45 minutes so that you can take a little break to walk around or stretch your legs.
- Is any form of lifting, pushing, or carrying work well within your physical capabilities?
- Is your sitting position upright or slightly reclined, with your lower back supported?
- Are you able to break up extended periods of continuous work? For example, by completing other activities, changing positions, standing up, stretching?
At Workstations.com.au we understand how important employee safety is. We can provide high-quality furniture for your business. We have a large range of work from home furniture available for quick delivery.
Contact us to find out more.