Remote work

Successful occupational health and safety work is based on cooperation between the employer and the staff, whether in a traditional workplace or when working remotely.

Obligations of Employers

Employers must ensure that employees’ facilities are healthy and safe, even if they work remotely.

Employers must therefore, in consultation with employees, ensure that:

• Employees receive information about the workplace’s remote work policy.

• Employees are aware of the dangers that can come with working remotely, whether it is at their home or in another defined place.

• The environment in which the work takes place is safe and suitable for the work.

• Projects to be performed are well suited for remote work.

• Employees are provided with appropriate equipment for their work and receive instructions on its use.

• There is an agreement on communication standards and that they are respected by both management and staff.

• That the workplace safety and health plan takes into account that employees work remotely part-time or full-time.

• Jobs and tasks are risk assessed before they begin or if circumstances or conditions change.

• Appropriate improvements are made when the risk assessment indicates that it is needed and that the work environment is thus under constant review.

• That employees receive guidance, training and information so that they can carry out their work in a safe and healthy manner.

• Jobs are organized and carried out in the safest way possible, so that the health and well-being of employees is not endangered.

• Employees receive training on occupational health and safety and ways to report if issues arise are defined, whether it concerns health or anything else that may arise in remote work.

• The workplace security guards and safety representatives receive appropriate training on occupational safety and risk assessment in remote work, know their role with regards to remote work and are given scope to carry it out.

• An emergency plan for fire, evacuation, accidents or other emergencies is in place where remote working takes place.

Requirements for facilities

Employers need to define what tools, equipment and supplies staff need in order to be able to work at a remote workstation and reach an agreement with staff on what is needed. This is then examined and assessed when the risk assessment for remote work is conducted. It can be useful to use the checklist for risk assessment in remote work.

The main principle is that the employer must provide, connect and maintain the equipment necessary for regular remote work, but it is important to define issues related to these factors in the remote work policy before remote working begins.

The devices and equipment in question can be:

• Adjustable work desk and work chair.

• Computer hardware, such as a computer monitor, keyboard, computer mouse, and printer.

• Headphones, if the employee often needs to answer calls or participate in teleconferencing.

• Work phone.

• Appropriate office equipment.

It should be assumed that a risk assessment is conducted before remote work begins and reviewed if circumstances or conditions change.

Obligations of Employees

Employees must be involved in promoting their own health and safety at work.

Remote workers therefore need to:

• Familiarize themselves with and follow their employer’s instructions.

• Take care of their own health and safety at work, including checking equipment provided by the employer and reporting if equipment needs repair or replacement.

• Report to the employer any illness or accident resulting from their work.

Requirements for facilities

Remote workers need to find suitable facilities for work, whether it is inside the home or in another defined place.

Employees need to make sure that the remote workstation or facility is suitable, for example that:

• Lighting, temperature and ventilation are suitable for working comfortably.

• The workstation is neat.

• There is no interference due to noise and other factors.

• Floors are clean, dry and without the risk of slipping, tripping and falling.

• Electrical sockets are located so that cables do not lie on the floor and that there is no overload connected to electricity, for example on multi-connectors.

• Adequate internet connection is available and a work phone is available for use at work.