Alleinarbeit
Occupational safety in the home office has been a challenge in occupational safety and not just since Covid-19 and the associated Corona pandemic. In the practical implementation of working from home or teleworking, the focus is usually on compliance with the Working Hours Act (ArbZG), costs or social security and tax law issues. The issue of occupational health and safety is rarely considered here: the same occupational health and safety regulations apply to employees working in their own homes as to local employees in the employer's company.
The following article discusses the importance of risk assessments and occupational safety in the home office.
Work in the home office — occupational health and safety regulations
All occupational safety regulations also apply to working from home, in particular the Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG). On the basis of the general clauses in Sections 3, 4 ArbSchG, numerous legal regulations have been issued which specify in detail the requirements for the organization of work and work processes, in particular the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV).
Gem. Section 3 I 1 of the ArbStättV is the employer obliged to take the necessary occupational safety measures, taking into account the circumstances that affect the safety and health of employees at work. To this end, he must ensure the protection of his employees through appropriate technical, organizational or personal measures.
Working from home — risk assessment
A risk assessment in accordance with §§ 5 and 6 ArbSchG must therefore also be carried out for workplaces in the home office. On the one hand, this means the obligation to determine the necessary measures for the safe provision and use of work equipment provided by the employer (Section 3 I Industrial Safety Ordinance, BetrSichV).
In doing so, the employer must pay particular attention to the risks associated with the use of the work equipment itself and which are caused at the workplace by interactions of the work equipment with each other or with work materials or the work environment. Risks can therefore arise from the workplace itself or from the equipment used, but also from the person of the employee himself in the special working environment at home. The specific assessment of the employee's intended workplace at home is the basis for the specific measures to be taken.
Solutions and advice
In our understanding, many of these jobs involve solo work or individual jobs, which, depending on the type and design, may require special individual protection. As to whether a solution from our personnel emergency signal systems might be suitable for your requirements, we would be happy to discuss with you in person. Just contact us here
For our FAQ section, please click here
.svg)
.svg)
