Consequences of not managing working from home risks

For individuals

Physical injuries from home hazards – slips, trips, falls.

Body stressing injuries from workstation setup.

Mental health conditions from isolation and disconnection with the workplace, poor work-life balance.

For employers

Increased incidence of injury and workers’ compensation claims.

Higher absenteeism.

Lower productivity.

Prevent and manage risks

Physical work environment

Risks
• Poor workstation set-up and physical hazards in the home.
• Inadequate lighting.

Controls
• Ensure furniture and computers are set up ergonomically and are suited to the task. Check that the workspace is free of clutter and trip hazards, and has adequate ventilation.
• Check the level of illumination and location of lighting fixtures are suited to the activity. Lighting level should be sufficient for visual tasks to be completed without eye strain.

View Comcare and Safe Work Australia guidance on managing work from home including checklists and tips.

Mental health

Risks
• Isolation from managers, colleagues and support networks.
• Not having clear boundaries between home-life and work-life.

Controls
• Set clear work expectations
• Ensure regular contact with team and managers – maintain a dialogue around work practices and supports.
• Establish boundaries around work hours – friends, family and colleagues need to be aware of your work schedule.

Further information

Guidance

Comcare has a range of guidance to support safe and healthy home-based work:

• Working from Home guide for employees (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• Working from Home guide for employers (PDF, 807.3 KB)
• Working from Home checklist (PDF, 556.2 KB).

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