HSE Guidelines Update for Home Workers

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently launched an update to include temporary and long-term at-home workers in their regulations. These are laws in place to help protect employees when working from home.

Due to the Covid pandemic, there has been a shift from office working to home working. We are in the middle of a second government restricted lockdown in the UK and it is unknown how many more there may be but it looks like the new normal. So buckle up buttercup and see how you can protect your staff with the DSE updated guidelines.

What are your responsibilities as an employer?

Employers must

1. Carry out a desk / DSE assessment

2. Conduct a workplace risk assessment

3. Reduce risks by ensuring workers take breaks from their desk

4. Provide an eye test if an employee asks for one

5. Provide training and information for workers

Employers, you are now being held accountable for more than just your employee's computer - you are responsible for their remote working health and safety.

Workers must have their work set up assessed including their furniture, equipment, and work conditions. Assessments should be carried out annually but must also be done if an employee develops pain or discomfort at work, there is a new starter, or if there is a change in the way a workstation is used.

Breaks

Ensure your employee's breaks are well planned, VIDA helps you personalise these activity breaks with tailored exercises and look after your staff's wellbeing.

Taking regular breaks is recommended for lots of reasons like avoiding eye strain and muscle soreness as well as improving productivity. Changes in activity should allow workers to move around, get the blood pumping, and change postures.

There are no set timings but shorter breaks more often, 5 to 10 minutes every hour, is recommended.

Why not get your team to adopt the Pomodoro technique :

Training

You must ensure workers have information on the risks associated with desk working and give them information about:

• good posture

• adjusting chairs and other furniture

• arranging desk space

• adjusting screens and lighting to avoid reflections and glare

• breaks and changes in activity

• risk assessments

• how to report problems

Homeworking

DSE regulations have always existed but now government regulators such as HSE in the UK have included temporary and long-term home workers in their guidelines.

For those temporarily working from home, they should be empowered to complete a self-assessment with some simple hints and tips on managing home working and provided this great information sheet on how to set yourself up.

HSE ergonomic setup leaflet

There is advice on ergonomic workstation that workers may need to work effectively from home and suggested adjustments you can make to bigger items like a cushion on your chair for low back support. The VIDA assessment can personalise this to each worker with easy at-home suggestions to improve workstation ergonomics and reduce risk.

Long term home workers must have a full workstation assessment and be provided with all equipment required and advice.

How VIDA can help you look after your team

Since the launch of VIDA we have been overwhelmed by the support and engagement of employees using it to assess their work from home setup.

''At Elvie, we care about our employees well-being . While we have all been on prolonged remote working for the last few months, thinking about our remote setups and ergonomics became a priority, so instead of going with standard health & safety desk assessment check-list, we decided to go a step ahead and work with Vitrue Health and use their amazing technology help improve our lives. It only takes few minutes, is easy and fun to use, and more importantly, provide great individual recommendations and tips for work setup.'' Head of People at Elvie

The VIDA assessment ensures compliance with the DSE risk assessment updated requirements ensuring temporary and permanent at-home workers have a desk assessment with personalised recommendations and ensure you are looking after your workers during these changing times.

There is even a new wellbeing feature designed to encourage workers to plan movement breaks tailored to their individual needs.

VIDA is an easy to use tool that ticks all the boxes:

• Desk assessment

• DSE assessment

• Workstation risk assessment

• Wellbeing assessment

• Personalised recommendations

• Educational and training content

• Additional wellbeing and break planning tools

• Engages your staff

• CPD certificate

What are you waiting for? Get your team signed up and show them a little love and support while they are trying to be productive from home!