In FMJ's regular monthly column, our team of FM experts answer your
questions about the world of facilities management
WORKPLACE SOLUTION PROVIDER’S VIEW
ANGELA LOVE,
DIRECTOR, ACTIVE
WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS
In March 2020, millions of
people were suddenly forced
to work from home. For many,
they grabbed a notebook, a
pen, their laptop and charger,
and assumed it would be for a
few weeks. They coped with the
strange circumstances, setting
up temporary workspaces at
dining tables, perched on sofas
and for some, propped up in bed. Those emergency solutions,
that didn’t account for ergonomic wellbeing in the short-term,
are a lot less suitable now that working from home has become
more long-term than we ever expected.
There is no blame on employers for overlooking health and
safety considerations, especially given the speed at which
homeworking became the norm. The pandemic has
thrown up a host of challenges and it’s been di icult
for employers to keep up with the wellbeing
needs of their teams. That said, it is important to
recognise that the employer is responsible for
the protection of the occupational health and
safety of their employees.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974,
employers are responsible for carrying out risk
assessments on all of the work activities carried
out by their employees – including homeworkers.
The current circumstances mean that it’s not
realistic for a full risk assessment to happen in every
employee’s home, but that doesn’t absolve employers of
responsibility.
At a minimum, employers should be providing homeworkers
20 MARCH 2021
with information on how to
work safely in their home
environment. This could include
advice on taking regular screenbreaks,
stepping away from their
workstations or recommending
stretching exercises. It should also
involve asking employees to carry out
a self-assessment of their workspace
and equipment or provide them with
guidance on how to do this correctly. If issues
are identified through that process, employers are
responsible for making sure they are rectified and that
employees can work at home in a safe and healthy way.
This could mean providing employees with o ice equipment
to use at home – anything from a mouse, a standalone keyboard
and wrist supporting mats, to a good o ice chair, a separate
monitor or cushions to provide lumbar support. There are lots
of flexible options available, like foldaway desks and chairs,
so employers can still provide the necessary support where
an employees’ space at home is limited. The key is to ensure
that all employees have the right equipment to be able to work
safely from home, and that employers make the same e ort
as they would for o ice-based employees to reduce the risk of
musculoskeletal disorders.
We have seen much discourse that suggests one of the lasting
e ects of the pandemic will be an increase in homeworking in the
future. Taking steps to understand and manage ergonomics in
the home now is likely to deliver longer-term value.
ERGONOMIC EQUIPMENT PROVIDER’S VIEW
SAM RYLANDS, MARKETING MANAGER, DURABLE UK
One of the biggest challenges of the pandemic for many of us
has been adapting to working from home. Whilst some
workers have been embracing the concept for
years, the majority of UK workers don’t have a
dedicated o ice space or desk in their homes
and have therefore found themselves
perched on the end of the kitchen table
with the kids running round them, or
worse, craned over their laptop from their
sofa or bed.
Deep down, most home workers know
that by working from the sofa or bed,
their posture is su ering, but do they truly
appreciate the impact of this on their longterm
health?
The Institute of Employment Studies Home
Wellbeing Survey reported that, in the first lockdown in the
UK, 58 per cent of people complained of new neck pain, 56 per
FM CLINIC
As we approach the
anniversary of the 2020
lockdown, news reports
suggest that Working
from bed (WFB) has grown
in popularity since the start
of the pandemic. What are
employers’ responsibilities
to ensure home based sta
observe safe, ergonomic working
habits to protect their health
and reduce the chances of
musculoskeletal disorders?
Angela Love
ADVICE & OPINION
Under the Health and
Safety at Work Act 1974,
employers are responsible for
carrying out risk assessments on all
of the work activities carried out by
their employees – including
homeworkers.”
Angela Love