Covid-19 Work from Home Safety Checklists and Risk Assessments

Covid-19 Returning To Work Inductions, Transitioning, Safety Start Up And Re Entry Plans – HERE >>>>>>>

Telecommuting Safety Checklist: Telecommuting Safety Checklist (10212 downloads)

Covid-19 Working from Home Safety and Workers Comp Checklist: Covid-19 Work From Home Safety Checklist (5360 downloads)

Working from Home checklist from Comcare

Please see below a checklist of considerations for short-term working from home arrangements. This includes workers that enter the 14-day isolation period for COVID-19. This checklist provides guidance for workers and Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs to be referred to as ‘employers’). Please note, the following considerations should be seen as minimum requirements only. Employers may have more detailed working from home guidance in their organisations that should be used in conjunction with this checklist.

Telecommuting Safety Checklist: Telecommuting Safety Checklist (10212 downloads)

What are the WHS requirements when there are alternative work arrangements, like working from home?

In Australia, the model WHS laws still apply if workers work somewhere other than their usual workplace, for example, from home.

What an employer can do to minimise risks at a worker’s home will be different to what they can do at the usual workplace.  However, if you can, you should:

• provide guidance on what is a safe home office environment, including what a good work station set up looks like and how to keep physically active
• require workers to familiarise themselves and comply with good ergonomic practices, for example by referring to a self-assessment checklist
• maintain daily communication with workers
• provide continued access to an employee assistance program, and
• appoint a contact person in the business that workers can talk to about any concerns.

You should also think about how your existing policies and procedures apply when working from home, including:

• notification of incidents, injuries hazards and changes in circumstances
• consultation and review of work health and safety processes, and
• attendance, timesheets, leave and other entitlements and arrangements.

What are the WHS risks of working from home?

Working from home may change, increase or create work health or safety risks. To understand these risks, you must consult with workers.

Possible new risks include:

• physical risks from poor work environment, such as workstation set up, heat, cold, lighting, electrical safety, home hygiene and home renovations, and
• psychosocial risks such as isolation, high or low job demands, reduced social support from managers and colleagues, fatigue, online harassment and family and domestic violence.

You will still need to do what you reasonably can to manage the risks to a worker who works from home.