Working From Home?

[fourteen85]

I was just wondering out of curiosity about all the folk now working from home, do their employers still have to ensure that their working environment is a safe place to work?

[JimF]

I think it depends on the type of work and required equipment.

Love the avatar, by the way... :-)

[ParsleyDumpling]

I am not working from home, but since our SHEQ (safety, health, environment and quality) manager has just sent out a assessment to homeworkers to complete regarding display screen equipment etc. I would have to answer, yes.

[EdmundD]

Yes. When the company I was working for introduced WFH 10+ years ago there was a requirement for a risk assessment to be carried out. Having said that not a great deal of notice was taken of it.

[Milo2]

The people that I know who are working from home have never been asked about their working environment so the companies have no idea whether the conditions are safe or not.

[jno]

Parsley, does that mean they're assuming responsibility, or just covering their backs in case anything goes wrong, so they can blame it on you?

[Buenchico]

From the Health and Safety Executive:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/workers/home.htm

[New Judge]

//Parsley, does that mean they're assuming responsibility, or just covering their backs in case anything goes wrong, so they can blame it on you?//

They cannot blame breaches and failings on their employees. They have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to ensure that their people have suitable working conditions and that they comply with the requirements of the HASAW Act.

I've responded to a number of questions on here about this issue. In March people were sent home with a laptop and told to get on with their jobs from their kitchen/bathroom/bedroom/broom cupboard or wherever they could. That "crisis" has now passed and if employers are going to allow their employees to work at home long term (as many of them say they will) then they have to get their backsides into gear to comply with H&S requirements.

[Peter Pedant]

health and safety of course covers killer computers

Surprisingly - it is certain that confidential info is not a chose in action in my langage and actionable in the criminal law for theft

BUT as my kiddies guide to info says " that does not mean that other legislation may not apply" - and lists around 5 statutory goes at sorting this out - computer misuse act - malicious communications and three others

here is what the police ( who should know something about it) say about their own

https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/information-management/data-protection/