Gefahren im Home Office und wie man sie vermeidet

You probably don't realize it, but home offices can be dangerous. Here are some of the physical and technical hazards you should be aware of and avoid. These will of course depend on your home office activity/job.

Home offices seem like safe places to work. After all, you live at home. Click here to find out what precautions employers and employees must take according to the Swiss Confederation.

But safety in the home office cannot be taken for granted. The home is a common place for accidents of all kinds. And when employees work from home or a self-employed person runs a business from home, the risk of accidents can increase. That's because home workers bring the health hazards associated with working in a traditional business into their home, without the safety precautions that might exist in a business outside the home.

Security in the home office is a growing concern

Government statistics show that half of all businesses in the United States are working from home. In addition, allowing employees to work from home, at least some of the time, has gone from an occasional perk at some companies to an everyday working arrangement, due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The more employees work from home, the more accidents could occur that would not be expected in a traditional company. For example, tripping and falling down stairs at home is an unfortunately common accident. If you trip and fall down the same stairs while reading a work email, this becomes a workplace accident. Similarly, an injury sustained when you trip over the power cord of your notebook in your home office could also be considered an accident at work. However, tripping and falling are just the tip of the iceberg.

Combine these factors and you have a potential recipe for impending disaster for the home worker.

How do experts view working at home?

Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not routinely inspect home offices, the agency's guidelines state:

"All employers, including those who have 'work from home' arrangements with their employees, are responsible for complying with the Health and Safety at Work Act and health and safety standards.

"Even if the workplace is in a particular area of the employee's home, the employer retains a degree of control over the terms of the 'work at home' agreement. An important factor in drafting these agreements is to ensure that workers are not exposed to reasonably foreseeable hazards arising from their employment at home. Ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for the employee should be a prerequisite for any work at home agreement. "

How to make home offices more secure

If you and/or your employees work from home, you need to be aware of some of the most common home office hazards and the steps you can take to eliminate the hazards and prevent injuries.  

Some of the home office safety measures to take are - or should be - common sense.  But those who work from home can easily overlook or forget basic safety precautions in their daily routine.  However, safety is important and needs to be considered at home too. In this guide, you'll learn how to protect yourself, your employees and your family from the dangers of working at home.

Home computer security

The computers and other devices you rely on to make money and run your business can put your financial and personal security at risk if you're not careful. Home-based businesses are just as vulnerable to cybercrime as larger companies. Fortunately, you can protect your systems from cyberattacks with some basic precautions.

Home office employee installing antivirus -source: pexels.com

If you run your business from home with a laptop, you also need to think about the physical safety aspects. If you need to run the laptop's power supply from a table to a wall socket and someone walking through the room hits the cable, the laptop could be pulled off the table and break, or the person could fall and injure themselves - or both.

Walking surfaces in the home office

• The floor should be flat, dry and free of frayed seams; carpets must be well attached to the floor.
• Surfaces should be free from tripping, slipping and impact hazards.
• Never leave power or telephone cords in walkways.
• All stairs with four or more steps should be equipped with handrails.

Remember that falls are one of the most common causes of accidents at home - don't become another victim of the statistics.

Fire safety

One of the greatest dangers in the home is fire.

• Keep your workplace clean and tidy, with as few unstored papers and flammable materials as possible. Garbage should be disposed of immediately.
• Make sure you have a working smoke detector and a suitable fire extinguisher for your workplace.
• Plan an escape route and keep the emergency exits clear.
• Do you have a coffee pot or a heater in your home office? If so, make sure that flammable materials such as paper are kept away from hot surfaces.

Electrical safety

• Circuit breakers or fuse boxes should be labeled and accessible.
• Electrical plugs, cables, control panels and sockets should be in good condition and should not have frayed or loose wires, bare conductors or broken insulation.
• Older homes with two-pole earthed sockets that require plug adapters do not provide adequate protection for PCs - three-pole earthed sockets are ideal. Computer equipment should also be connected to a surge protector.
• Ensure that your electrical components are sufficiently ventilated.
• Telephone lines, power cables and extension cords should be secured under a desk or on a baseboard.

Air quality

Home office job in the fresh air - Source: pexels.com

Poor air quality in the home office can cause or exacerbate a number of respiratory illnesses, cause eye, nose and throat irritation and - in the case of carbon monoxide poisoning - even lead to death. Below are some measures you can take to improve the air quality in your home office:

• Work in a well-ventilated area. Fans can help.
• Ban smoking - it stinks, is bad for the smoker and for the poor non-smokers who breathe in the second-hand smoke.
• Handle office chemicals properly and use in well ventilated areas.
• Store chemicals, especially those that are toxic, in a safe and protected storage area.
• Purchase and install a carbon monoxide detector.

Office practices

• Do not store any objects on high cupboards or furniture. This would lead to falls and injuries. Try to limit storage to designated storage areas.
• Filing cabinets are notorious for causing accidents and injuries. Try not to place them near entrances or high traffic areas where open drawers can become a hazard. Do not open more than one drawer at a time - sometimes this can even cause the cabinet to tip over.
• Never store sharp office tools such as scissors or letter openers where they could fall and injure someone. When you are not using them, keep them in a drawer or other safe place.
• Chairs and other office furniture should be structurally sound so that their use cannot cause injury.
• Shredders and other devices that can cause bodily injury should be switched off and disconnected from the power supply when not in use.

Computer workstations

Computer-related injuries and illnesses can be avoided with a few simple, ergonomically sensible applications:

• Workstations should be set up so that they are comfortable and do not cause unnecessary strain on the back, arms or neck.
• Your computer should be placed on either a standard height desk or a workstation specifically designed for its use.
• Use a standard five-legged computer chair that provides good back and arm support.
• Place the keyboard directly in front of you, approximately at elbow level.

Take breaks to stretch, stand up and move around.

Safety for children

Children who need attention - Source: pexels.com

If you have young children and expect them to spend some time in your home office, it's time to 'childproof' your workspace.

Keep all sharp office utensils away from small children and out of reach. Small heavy objects in a child's hand, such as paperweights, can also cause injury. Keep office chemicals out of reach or in a locked storage room.

Cover unused sockets with plastic covers. Use a surge protector with an on-off switch that allows you to easily turn off the power source. Get on your hands and knees and make sure there are no cords that little feet could trip over.

Consider keeping your children out of the office and/or locking the door to the work area.

If you or another worker is injured in your home office, be sure to have an adequately stocked first aid kit available. Consider keeping a separate first aid kit for use in the home office only. And always seek medical treatment if necessary.

Always remember that office safety - and the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses - should be one of your top priorities, whether you work in a corporate headquarters or a small home office.