Remote work

The working conditions of remote workers will always be different and depend on the situation and tasks at each time, the location of the workplace and the equipment needed to carry out the work. The employer must ensure that a risk assessment of work is carried out at the remote workstation after a decision has been made on the employee’s remote working and the equipment needed to perform the work.

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.

Following the risk assessment, a prevention plan must be drawn up which sets out the necessary improvements on the basis of the risk assessment and it is necessary to ensure that measures are taken to prevent or minimize occupational hazards and adverse health effects. It can be useful to use (only available in Icelandic).

It is important that the manager and the remote worker and even the safety representative go over the checklist together, for example at a remote meeting where the facilities are viewed via a webcam or video call so that the employee can walk around and show the facilities. Risk factors need to be listed and improvements discussed. Once an agreement has been reached on improvements, it is a good idea for both parties to sign the risk assessment. The risk assessment must then be revised in the event of an accident or mishap or significant changes in work or facilities.

More about risk assessment

Musculoskeletal system in remote work

The musculoskeletal system of remote workers needs to be considered in the same way as in a traditional workplace. It is necessary to assess whether there are any hazards in the work environment that can cause musculoskeletal symptoms, such as pain or reduced mobility. It is a good idea to use the checklist for .

Causes of musculoskeletal pain

The causes of musculoskeletal pain can be many, but good working conditions, varied tasks, suitable physical activity and regular exercise are all factors that can reduce the likelihood of them. You can read more about work-related musculoskeletal pain here.

Criteria for Working Positions and Equipment

Working conditions are often poorer at home than in a traditional workplace, and it can also be complicated to conduct a risk assessment at home for employees. Therefore, every effort must be made to make all equipment, desks, chairs, monitors and more adjustable so that staff can easily change settings and adjust the equipment to suit them. Here you can read more about appropriate physical activity at work.

Social work environment in remote work

The social work environment needs to be nurtured well in remote work, as it can test communication and morale, affect people’s mental well-being and cause stress. These are factors that can be more difficult for managers to manage remotely. Therefore, it is important to ensure that there is both formal and informal communication with remote workers and that there is trust between employees and management.

• Remote work can mean that employees feel isolated, work longer working days and that the boundaries between work and private life shift significantly.

• It is important that employees feel that they have the support of managers and the workplace when they are defined as remote workers.

• It is necessary to consider the different social circumstances of employees and examine whether they need special support. This may, for example, apply to foreign workers and employees with reduced working capacity.

• It is important to plan how communication should take place during working hours. Good communication reduces stress, improves staff attitudes towards work and increases safety.

• Remote work can affect morale and workplace culture. It’s a challenge to maintain good morale and workplace culture and to find ways to maintain employee networking.

• Remote work can cause social isolation due to less communication with colleagues and customers. This can have a significant impact on staff, especially those individuals who have their social needs met in communicating with coworkers. Isolation of this kind can lead to sadness or other mental health-related problems.

The environment of a remote workstation

The various environmental factors are no less important in remote work than in traditional work units.

Checklists for Risk Assessment in Remote Work

Remote work safety and health plan – risk assessment/checklist

It is recommended to use Acrobat Reader to open the checklist. You can also download the list by right-clicking on the link, selecting “save link as” and opening the document where it is saved.

Remote work checklist from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Intended for employers to assess the risks of remote work.