Preventing Work from Home Injuries: What Every Employer Needs to Know

Covid and lockdown saw many companies pivot to adopt work-from-home policies to maintain business continuity. While necessary, many organisations and employees needed to quickly prepare for the sudden shift, which unfortunately led to increased work-from-home injuries and resulting workers’ compensation claims.

With many teams choosing to stay working remotely (or hybrid), employers must take steps to prevent work-from-home injuries and have a plan in place should they occur.

How Australians are working differently post-Covid.

Many employees have embraced working from home as part of the new normal. These new WFH workplace risks now need to be monitored, like when staff are working from the company office.

“The Families in Australia Survey: Towards Covid Normal found that among the employed survey respondents, 67% were sometimes or always working from home, compared to 42% pre-Covid”.

Remote work benefits include:

Increased productivity (fewer distractions and interruptions)
Better work-life balance by reducing commuting time and travel costs

On the other side of the coin, the disadvantages of working remotely include:

Reduced work-life balance by overworking and constant connectedness
Feelings of disconnect from peers
Breakdown in communication between peers
Risk of isolation and loneliness
Distractions at home

While challenges and risks are associated with working from home, many Australian workers still prefer this if given the option.

Legal Aspects for Employers to Consider

Employers must provide a safe working environment, even those working from home. Legal action could be on the cards if an employee fails to provide a safe work environment.

Even if an employee is hurt at home, they are still eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. There are challenges, however, in determining whether an injury occurred while working at home.

Common work-from-home injuries and how employers can help prevent them.

Sound injury prevention practice provides staff with educational resources and training materials on ergonomic best practices, proper lifting techniques, and other relevant topics to have on hand.

Musculoskeletal injuries in the neck, back and shoulders are common, caused by prolonged sitting periods and poor working posture. Employers can ensure that proper ergonomic assessments have been completed for all staff working from home and provide appropriate ergonomic education and equipment (adjustable chair, sit-stand desk, monitor arm) and education on maintaining correct posture, taking regular breaks to stretch, and varying their work positions throughout the day.

Prolonged screen exposure causes eye strain leading to headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. Employers can help minimise this by providing a quality monitor set to the correct brightness and contrast, encouraging regular screen breaks and that the home office environment has good natural light. Managers can also schedule screen breaks in staff’s calendars to remind them.
Slips, trips, and falls can still happen at home due to power cords, slippers, kid’s toys, or even a freshly mopped floor. Employers should remind staff to keep a clutter-free space, wear appropriate footwear and have adequate lighting in their workspace.
Isolation, lack of social interaction, and blurred lines between work and home life can contribute to stress-related injuries (headaches, anxiety and depression).

Electrical injuries from faulty equipment or not following safety procedures. These are preventable by providing staff with safe and functional electrical equipment, conducting authorised annual testing and tagging, and ensuring employees understand proper electrical safety procedures.

Psychological injuries can occur due to a number of reasons; from feeling overwhelmed to having to deal with an upset customer right through to challenges that employees face in their lives. Employers can support their team by scheduling regular check-ins, and making employee assistance programs, counselling, or support groups available. Encourage staff to take annual leave and maintain clear work-life boundaries for their mental well-being. Virtual coffee breaks, not just meetings, help remote workers to stay connected with colleagues and feel part of the team.

Fair work hour expectations, response times, and deadlines should be reiterated, and regular communication and self-care should be encouraged.

Offer virtual wellness programs like fitness classes, mindfulness sessions, or access to online resources related to stress management and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Red Health is here to support you.

If an employee has experienced a work-from-home injury or you suspect that a medical condition is impacting their ability to perform the inherent requirements of their role, Red Health provides Independent Medical Assessments which help employers understand how they can assist the employee whilst adhering to WHS best practices.

Both Red Health and our sister company, Flexiwell Group, understand that there is no-one-size-fits-all approach when assessing individuals regarding work-related injuries and illnesses.

Collectively, we offer a range of services that are specifically designed to provide clarity to both the employer and employee when injury or illness may play a role in the workplace.

Every individual and every situation is different. We take great pride in a human-centred model to ensure clients make informed selections about the type of medico-legal evaluation or expertise they need.