Occupational Health and Safety

Creating and maintaining a safe and productive work environment is important, wherever work is done. It improves productivity and staff happiness and wellbeing and could save both employers and employees money in the long term. However, setting up safe, comfortable and productive work arrangements in the home is sometimes a challenge.

Employers are legally obliged to take ‘all practicable steps’ to ensure a safe and healthy workplace but employers are not always aware of the risks that teleworkers are facing. Employees also have a responsibility to do what they can to improve the safety and comfort of their home office: health and safety is a shared responsibility.

The document OH&S in the home office – occupational health and safety for teleworkers (PDF) presents some general background information and provides a checklist that teleworkers and their managers should consider before telework starts. (A version of this document is also available in Microsoft Word format.)

Finding solutions to occupational health and safety (OH&S) issues can be complex: visit your State or Territory government website for more information (see below).

Comcare

Comcare provides a comprehensive overview of the approved standards and regulations associated with occupational health and safety in Australia.
http://www.comcare.gov.au/

For Occupational Health and Safety regulations
http://www.comcare.gov.au/ohs_legislation/ohs_acts__and__regulations

For Codes of practice (including the use of computer workstations)
http://www.comcare.gov.au/safety/codes_of_practice