Australian employers should assess working-from-home health and safety risks using a structured, proportionate and documented process. Under applicable work health and safety (WHS) laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must manage risks to workers so far as is reasonably practicable, including when employees perform work from home.
An effective working-from-home risk assessment considers the activities being performed, the residential working environment, potential hazards, appropriate control measures and arrangements for reviewing safety over time.
Why are working-from-home risk assessments important?
Working from home introduces workplace safety considerations that differ from those encountered in traditional offices.
Employers generally exercise direct control over commercial workplaces, including their infrastructure, equipment, maintenance and safety procedures.
Residential properties are different. They are privately occupied environments with varying electrical installations, furniture, equipment, layouts and maintenance conditions.
Consequently, employers may have limited visibility of the physical conditions in which their employees perform work.
A structured risk assessment helps organisations identify foreseeable hazards, evaluate their significance and determine appropriate measures without unnecessarily intruding into employees' private lives.
What hazards should employers consider?
The hazards associated with working from home depend on the work performed and the circumstances of the individual worker.
Common considerations include:
Electrical safety: Damaged power cords, overloaded power boards, unsuitable equipment and potentially defective electrical infrastructure.
Ergonomics: Inappropriate seating, workstation arrangements, monitor positioning and repetitive movements.
Slips, trips and falls: Trailing cables, cluttered work areas and unsuitable access arrangements.
Environmental conditions: Inadequate lighting, ventilation, temperature control and workspace suitability.
Psychosocial hazards: Isolation, excessive workloads, fatigue, inadequate support and difficulties separating work from personal responsibilities.
Emergency arrangements: Access to emergency assistance, communication procedures and the ability to respond to incidents.
Not every hazard will be relevant to every worker. Assessments should reflect the actual work activities and reasonably foreseeable risks.
How should an employer conduct a working-from-home risk assessment?
A practical assessment process can be organised into six stages.
1. Identify the work activities
Determine what the employee does, what equipment is used and where the work is performed.
Consider whether the work involves ordinary computer-based activities or additional equipment and tasks that introduce different hazards.
2. Identify potential hazards
Gather information through employee consultation, structured questionnaires, workplace observations or other appropriate methods.
Employees should be encouraged to report concerns without fear of unreasonable consequences.
3. Assess the risks
Consider the likelihood and potential consequences of identified hazards, including who may be exposed and how.
The assessment should distinguish between minor issues and hazards requiring specialist intervention.
4. Implement appropriate controls
Determine reasonably practicable measures to eliminate risks or minimise them where elimination is not possible.
Controls may include improved equipment, workstation adjustments, training, revised work practices or professional technical assessment.
5. Document the findings
Maintain appropriate records of identified hazards, decisions, responsibilities, corrective actions and relevant supporting evidence.
Documentation can help demonstrate how an organisation identified and responded to workplace risks.
6. Review and reassess
Working conditions can change.
Assessments should be reviewed when relevant circumstances change, hazards are reported, incidents occur or existing controls may no longer be effective.
Is an employee self-assessment checklist sufficient?
An employee checklist can be a useful starting point, particularly for identifying visible hazards and gathering information about the working environment.
However, a completed checklist does not automatically establish that all relevant hazards have been identified or adequately controlled.
Employees may lack the technical knowledge required to recognise hidden electrical defects, infrastructure problems or other specialist hazards.
Where concerns exceed an employee's competence, employers should consider additional assessment or professional advice.
The appropriate level of verification should reflect the risks involved.
Do employers need to physically inspect every home?
Australian WHS duties do not create a universal requirement for employers to physically inspect every employee's residence.
The appropriate assessment method depends on the work, identified risks, applicable laws and what is reasonably practicable.
In some circumstances, consultation, employee questionnaires, photographs or remote assessments may provide useful information.
Other circumstances may justify a more detailed assessment by an appropriately qualified professional.
Employee privacy, consent and the limits of an employer's control over a private residence must also be considered.
How can technology improve working-from-home risk assessments?
Digital systems can help organisations manage remote-work safety information more consistently.
Potential applications include:
Standardised hazard identification and reporting.
Structured employee assessments.
Recording supporting photographs and relevant evidence.
Identifying matters requiring professional review.
Coordinating corrective actions.
Tracking outstanding safety concerns.
Maintaining records for management review and audit purposes.
However, technology should support rather than replace competent professional judgement.
Automated assessments must have appropriate safeguards, particularly where electrical hazards or other high-consequence risks may be involved.
How Home Shored Services fits
Home Shored Services is an Australian business developing practical approaches to identifying and managing workplace safety considerations associated with residential working environments.
Its developing technology and operational framework are intended to support structured risk identification, residential infrastructure assessment, appropriate professional intervention and evidence management.
The objective is to help organisations develop a more consistent and informed approach to working-from-home safety while recognising the importance of employee privacy and proportionate risk management.
Home Shored Services' developing capabilities are not a substitute for an employer's legal responsibilities or for appropriately qualified professional assessment where required.
Frequently asked questions
Are working-from-home risk assessments legally required in Australia?
Employers and other PCBUs must manage work-related health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable under applicable WHS legislation. The assessment methods and documentation required depend on the circumstances and jurisdiction.
Who is responsible for completing a home workplace risk assessment?
Employers retain relevant WHS duties, while workers also have responsibilities to take reasonable care and cooperate with reasonable safety instructions. Assessments may involve employees, WHS professionals and appropriately qualified specialists.
How often should a working-from-home risk assessment be reviewed?
There is no universal review interval applying to every home office. Reviews should occur when relevant conditions change, new hazards arise, incidents occur or existing controls require reassessment.
Can employers use photographs or video calls to assess home workplaces?
Photographs and video assessments may support hazard identification where appropriate. Their use should respect employee privacy, consent and applicable legal requirements.
Does a completed checklist prove a home workplace is safe?
No. A checklist records information and can assist hazard identification, but it does not necessarily verify hidden hazards or establish that every relevant risk has been adequately controlled.
Should electrical safety be included in a working-from-home assessment?
Yes, where electrical equipment or infrastructure presents foreseeable work-related risks. Suspected electrical defects should be referred to appropriately qualified professionals rather than investigated through unsafe employee testing.
Further reading
Home Shored Services has also published guidance on related working-from-home safety considerations.
Do Australian WHS laws apply when employees work from home?
https://www.homeshoredservices.au/knowledge-centre/whs-laws-work-from-home
Who Is Responsible for Electrical Safety When Employees Work From Home in Australia?
This related article examines electrical hazards, employer responsibilities and the role of licensed electrical professionals.
Australian regulatory guidance
Safe Work Australia — Working from home
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/working-home
Safe Work Australia — Managing risks
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/managing-risks
Safe Work Australia — Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/model-code-practice-how-manage-work-health-and-safety-risks
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal, electrical or professional WHS advice. Applicable duties and appropriate risk controls depend on the relevant Australian jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
