Keeping Home Workers Working Safely

| Posted: 16-05-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 5 | Rating: (163)

(?)

With the trend towards increased numbers of people working from home firmly established, many Health and Safety managers are concerned about how to ensure workers health and safety are protected adequately, outside of the normal office environment. In particular, how to manage and monitor staff to take responsibility for themselves.

The HSE definition states that a Home Worker is someone who regularly works from home and many companies now recognise that they have potentially a large percentage of employees who may be included in this category.

The HSE guidelines make clear that whilst employers have a responsibility for their employees health and safety while at work, employees are also responsible for maintaining a safe home environment. Thus, whilst an employer is responsible for the electrical safety of all equipment supplied to a home worker, to the extent that regular PAT testing must be carried out, the employee is responsible for checking the electrical wiring on an annual basis, and for the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms.

DSE training and DSE risk assessment is a key part of health and safety practice for home workers, as it is in the office. Ensuring that this is kept up to date is a statutory requirement but many health and safety professionals find managing the audit of DSE risk assessment is hard enough in the normal office environment but doubly difficult when workers are at a distance.

Home workers need to be aware of the additional risks they face through being in a solitary work environment; slips and trips in a home office are potentially more serious because of the risk of not being found quickly. Home workers need to think about taking personal safety precautions before going to external client meetings. Fire safety awareness is just as essential in a home office as in a large organisation, but all the responsibility for ensuring precautions are taken falls on the home worker.

Enabling home workers to understand and manage their responsibilities, as well as providing them with the information to carry out DSE risk assessments for themselves, is now an important part of the health and safety manager's remit. One way to manage this is to introduce an online training and DSE risk assessment course for home workers which keeps an automatic record allowing a Health and Safety manager to see who has done the training, which risks have been noticed, and how concerns have subsequently been resolved.

Companies providing this type of training will cover a wide range of important health and safety topics, including electrical testing, fire safety, manual handling, DSE risk assessment, stress and personal safety. They will also include a useful section on five steps for carrying out DSE risk assessment.

Following the training, the employee can carry out a basic home worker risk assessment, with the results logged in a central database.

In the end, a health and safety manager has discharged his responsibility to a home worker if he has provided the necessary information and tools to allow that worker to responsibly manage health and safety for themselves.

Rate this Article:

Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Tags: DSE Risk Assessment

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/keeping-home-workers-working-safely-416833.html

Print article

Send to friend

Publish this Article

Author feedback

About the Author:

Health and safety expert Catherine Harvey looks at the application of DSE risk assessment for home workers.

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Add new Comment

Position Your Posture To Prevent Pain
By: Catherine Harvey | 12/01/2008 | Health
A look at how a DSE risk assessment can prevent costly compensation claims.

How To Avoid Deep Vein Thrombosis
By: Catherine Harvey | 02/06/2008 | Health
A look at some of the risks faced by people who sit at a desk all day and what they can do to look after their health while at work.

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Q&A Powered by:

Latest Health Articles

Increase in Syphilis on the Return
By: Sarah Hyllok | 25/07/2008
Syphilis is a extremely hardcore sexually transmitted infection, which is caused by a bacteria called treponema pallidum.

Laser Treatments For Quitting Smoking
By: DENNIS HAMPTON | 25/07/2008
The laser treatment to quit smoking is one of the latest weapons against smoking, it uses a cold laser that is focused on several points on your body.

Candida and Yeast Infections- the Effects of Candida Yeast on Children
By: Hailey Harris | 25/07/2008
This article walks people through the effects of candida and yeast on children and what they can do about it.

The Treatment For Hay Fever
By: Alisha Dhamani | 25/07/2008
Hay fever does not always require medical treatment.

Study Uncovers Mesothelioma Link to Nanotechnology
By: Katie Kelley | 25/07/2008
Mesothelioma has long since been linked to the exposure of asbestos fibers and dust being inhaled into the lungs. However, a recent discovery has linked carbon nanotubes to the development of mesothelioma as well, although scientists and researchers are still struggling to convince nanotechnology produces of these potential dangers.

The #1 Best Health and Beauty Plan
By: John Russell | 25/07/2008
There is new research in the anti aging arena that says if you really want to fight against the natural aging process you should consider the science of anti aging nutrition and make a personal health and beauty plan. Anti aging nutrition is really becoming very popular in today's world. You can find many plans and as many products as you want that are based on the anti aging nutrition formula.

Natural Methods for Lowering Cholesterol
By: Chris Jensen | 25/07/2008
Cholesterol is just one of the substances the body produces naturally. Unfortunately, consuming food that's high in oil and saturated fats causes an imbalance.

What You Need to Know About Dentures
By: April Kerr | 25/07/2008
Often we neglect our sound health and fail to take proper care of our body. It is only when the normal functioning stops and we have to go through other methods to make up for the loss do we realize its importance.

More from Catherine Harvey

Reduce Salt Intake, Reduce Life Insurance, Live Longer
By: Catherine Harvey | 24/07/2008 | Health
A look at the way our salt intake needs to be balanced for a healthier life.

Are Surfers Brave Or Crazy
By: Catherine Harvey | 24/07/2008 | Sports and Fitness
A look at some of the crazy antics of brave surfers who always want to push the boundaries of their chosen sport.

The Beginnings Of The Ice Skate
By: Catherine Harvey | 24/07/2008 | Sports and Fitness
A look at the hmuble beginnings of the ice skate and how it has evolved from an item of neccessity to an item for sport.

The Sporting History Of BMW
By: Catherine Harvey | 24/07/2008 | Cars
A look at how one car manufacturer have developed their sporting side over the years and a look at how successful they have been.

Why Buy Property In Iraq
By: Catherine Harvey | 23/07/2008 | Real Estate
A look at where is the next up and coming place to buy a property abroad for a good investment.

How To Tell A Persons Age By The Size Of Their Removal Van
By: Catherine Harvey | 23/07/2008 | Cars
A look at how the various stages of life determine the size of our removal vehicles and how it all scales down again as we get older.

The Simplest Diet Advice Ever
By: Catherine Harvey | 23/07/2008 | Health
A look at some of the weightloss ideas that have been around for some time and the best way to approach diet and exercise for the healtiest life.

How Does The New Lexus Compare
By: Catherine Harvey | 23/07/2008 | Cars
A look at how the brand new Lexus compares to the new BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar and some of the initiatives to get you interested.

Article Categories

Article Marketing

Article Notepad

Stop Duplicate Content

Term Papers

Need Help?

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.62, 10)

Keeping Home Workers Working Safely

Article Comments

Related Articles

Got a Question? Ask.

Latest Health Articles

More from Catherine Harvey

Need Help?

Site Links

Webmasters

Business Info

Sign up for our email newsletter