Important Considerations in Relation to Home Working

If you are currently working from home or if you do so in the future, you should carry out an assessment of your working area to determine if it is suitable, and specifically if there are any hazards and risks. Here is a remote working checklist to get you started.

Remote Working Home Assessment Checklist:

  1. Designate an area of your home as your workstation e.g. a desk, home office, dining table or ‘foldaway’ desk.
  2. Ensure that your work area is well lit, set up appropriately and ergonomically correct. It is NOT advised to work from places such as an armchair, sofa or bed where the viewing angle of a laptop would not be correct, where your wrist would not be supported, and where you will be at increased risks of work-related upper-limb disorders and eye strain.
  3. Review the desk positioning guide below to ensure your desk is set up correctly.

Ergonomic Advice

1. Arms

Ensure your elbows are level with the keyboard when sitting at your desk. This will position your wrists at the correct angle.

2. Getting Comfortable

Ensure your feet are flat on the floor with your knees at a minimum angle of 90 degrees. If you cannot place both feet flat on the floor whilst sitting right back in your chair, you need a footrest. Adjust your chair to support your back.

3. Head and Neck

The very top of the screen should be level with your eyes, in your line of sight. The screen should be directly in front of you; it should be an arm’s distance away when you are sitting in an upright position.

Ensure that the equipment, the contrast, brightness and colour, is correctly set. Alternate your tasks to avoid stressors such as eye strain and fatigue.
4. Keying In

Leave sufficient space in front of the keyboard for hands and wrists. Your keyboard should be positioned towards the front of your desk to avoid overreaching and your mouse should be on the same platform (at the same level - next to your keyboard).

5. Reviewing Documentation

Any documents being used in the course of your work should be at the same level as the screen, on the same side as your dominant eye.

6. Overreaching

Items in frequent use, such as telephone, stapler, pens, etc. should be placed within easy feach.

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