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OSHA Guidelines for Remote Work Safety

Posted on by Jessica Roley
26
Sep

This article is for informational purposes only. MedPhysicals Plus (MPP) does not offer workplace safety services. For questions or guidance on workplace safety, please refer to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) or consult a qualified workplace safety professional.

 

As remote work becomes more common, it’s essential to focus on the health and safety of employees working from their homes. MedPhysicals Plus seeks to share our opinion and advice for employers in Alaska to ensure their remote teams are safe, healthy, and productive, including our own. 

OSHA Guidelines for Remote Work Safety

While OSHA steers clear of home office inspections and doesn’t hold employers responsible for that environment, the lines can blur when it comes to what counts as a work-related injury at home. Simply put, if you drop a stack of work documents on your foot, that’s on the job. But if you trip over your snoozing cat while reaching for the phone to take a work call? That’s just home life interfering with work—OSHA won’t get involved there.  As stated in the Q&A about this subject in the OSHA website, an employer is responsible for ensuring that its employees have a safe and healthful workplace, not a safe and healthful home.

Navigating home office mishaps can be tricky, but knowing the difference keeps everyone on the right side of the rules. 

Here’s a summary of key points from OSHA guidelines to help employers navigate their responsibilities effectively.

  1. Employer Obligation in Home Work Environments: Employers must ensure compliance with the OSH Act and safety standards even when an employee works from home. This includes addressing foreseeable hazards by providing appropriate training and equipment. In some cases, this may require on-site inspections to ensure safety standards are met.
  2. Employer’s Role in the Home Itself: The employer’s responsibility is limited to work-related areas and does not extend to ensuring the overall safety of the employee’s home. For instance, if an unsafe condition like a dangerous stairway in a home impacts the work area, the employer may be liable for not addressing this known hazard.
  3. Periodic Inspections by Employers: While OSHA does not mandate routine home inspections for compliance, employers are encouraged to inspect equipment and operations that pose safety risks, such as ladders or electrical equipment. Awareness and remediation of known hazards are required under the OSH Act.
  4. OSHA’s Inspection Procedures in Private Homes: OSHA primarily targets inspections towards industrial and commercial settings, not home offices, unless serious violations like sweatshop conditions are reported. Inspections in homes require either the occupant’s consent or a warrant.
  5. Recordkeeping for Home-Based Work Locations: Employers do not need to keep separate OSHA 200 Logs for home-based workplaces but must record any work-related injuries or illnesses that meet OSHA’s criteria. This recordkeeping can be centralized for employees under common supervision.

For a detailed explanation of these guidelines, click here. 

Creating a Safe and Effective Remote Work Policy

A clear remote work policy is important. It helps set expectations and maintains safety standards. Essential components of a remote work policy include:

  • Work Schedule: Defining the work hours to help manage work-life balance.
  • Equipment and Ergonomics: Outlining what equipment the company provides, how to set up a safe home office, and who covers the costs. MedPhysicals Plus recommends employers assess remote workstations remotely and provide necessary ergonomic equipment.
  • Communication: Setting guidelines on how often and through what modes team communication should occur to keep everyone connected.

Mental and Physical Health in Remote Work

The isolation and sedentary nature of remote work can impact mental and physical health. MedPhysicals Plus encourages employers to promote regular breaks, physical activity, and social interactions through virtual meetings. It’s also beneficial to establish clear cut-off times to help employees disconnect from work and recover.

Emergency Preparedness and Incident Reporting

Employers should ensure remote employees are prepared for emergencies by:

  • Emergency Plans: Having a clear evacuation plan and accessible first aid supplies.
  • Incident Reporting: Clearly outlining how employees should report work-related incidents and how these will be investigated.

Final Thoughts

By implementing these guidelines, employers can create a safe and supportive remote working environment. MedPhysicals Plus is committed to helping employers and employees navigate the challenges of remote work with health and safety as a priority. For more information on setting up a safe remote workspace or understanding your responsibilities under OSHA, please visit their website and contact them directly today. Speaking of remote… did you know MedPhysicals Plus offers mobile testing options.

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