Remote work
A workplace health and safety plan is intended to promote the safety, health and well-being of employees. Employers should ensure that the plan is available at all workplaces, regardless of size. The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health in Iceland calls for it in field inspections and digital inspections. The plan includes a written risk assessment and a written health protection and prevention plan.
When carrying out a risk assessment it is necessary to identify risks in the work environment that could potentially threaten the safety, health and well-being of employees, and all aspects of the activity and the work environment must be looked at holistically. In that context it is a good idea to build on the five main elements of occupational safety and health, and specific elements if applicable. However it depends on the nature of the activity how complex each risk factor is in the risk assessment.
Once a risk assessment has been made a health protection and prevention plan is drawn up, which deals with the measures that need to be taken so that the risk can be prevented or reduced as much as possible.
Here we discusse remote work, which is one of the specific aspects of occupational safety and health that must be considered if employees work partially or entirely remotely.
Remote work in general
Remote working means that a job or project is performed on a regular basis at a work station outside the traditional workplace. Remote work is not dependent on time or location and therefore has increased flexibility in many jobs. It comes with both advantages and challenges.
More about remote work in general
Remote work policy
A remote work policy is an important prerequisite for successful remote work. The policy defines the goals of remote work and discusses the rights and obligations of the employer and employees in its implementation.
Obligations of employers and employees
It is important that managers and employees agree on rules and guidelines for remote work and that there is a mutual understanding about this. This will make daily work easier and reduce the likelihood of potential disagreements. It is also important to consider the working environment and equipment.
More about obligations of employers and employees
Risk assessment in remote work
The employer must ensure that a risk assessment of the work is carried out at the remote work station
The risk assessment needs to identify and assess the main risk factors that may affect the safety, health and well-being of the employee. Work facilities, the equipment needed for work, physical exertion at work, environmental factors, employee training, communication methods, work arrangements and other social risk factors for remote working need to be assessed.
Service provider
Administration of Occupational Safety and Health