What is an employer's responsibility for health and safety of home workers?
An employer of someone who works from home has exactly the same duty as any other employer, but - because the circumstances are different - some things that would be practicable in a working environment directly under the employer's control may not be practicable when employees work from home.
The employer needs to make inquiries to satisfy themselves that:
- the hazards associated with the immediate work environment,
- the equipment being used, and
- the workplace set-up are well managed.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean the employer needs to inspect the home. The employer should be able to trust the employee to answer honestly.
The lack of direct control means that more emphasis needs to be placed on training to ensure that the employee is aware of what they should and should not be doing. The employer can also arrange for the employee to do a hazard assessment on behalf of the employer.
Date Modified: Tuesday, March 30, 2010
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and should not be used as a substitute for legislation or legal advice. State sector employers
and employees may be affected by some differences in the laws that apply to them (e.g. State
Sector Act 1988). The Department of Labour takes no responsibility for the results of any actions taken
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