2. Risk assessment
You must make sure your risk assessment[5] covers home workers.
It is important to keep a balanced and proportionate approach for home workers. In most cases you do not need to visit them to ensure their health and safety, but you should make sure they have a healthy and safe environment to work in[6].
You might decide to visit them, for example:
- to meet any special requirement, such as for a worker with a disability
- if the work activity includes any significant hazards like tools or chemicals
When someone is working from home, consider:
- how you will you keep in touch with them
- the type of work they will be doing (and for how long)
- how it can be done safely
- if you need to put control measures in place to protect them
Practical ways to do this include:
- providing advice and guidance on their home working set-up
- using questionnaires or self-assessment tools
- talking to them, for example using phone or video calls
Where your risk assessment indicates you need to take some action, your workers cannot be charged for this.
When people cannot work from home
You should agree alternative arrangements for people to use your workplace or another suitable location, if you decide:
- someone's home is not a suitable work environment
- reasonably practicable measures cannot be taken to protect them