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Toolbox Talks

Home Working – Toolbox Talk

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This toolbox talk focuses on the key health, safety and wellbeing considerations for employees working from home. While home working offers flexibility, it also introduces different risks to those found in traditional workplaces. Employers continue to hold legal responsibilities to ensure work activities carried out at home are safe, suitable and properly managed

 

 

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    • Why This Matters

      Home working can increase exposure to risks such as poor workstation setup, unsuitable environmental conditions, fire and electrical hazards, and reduced supervision. Without clear guidance and regular review, these risks can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, fatigue, accidents and reduced wellbeing.

      A well-designed home working arrangement helps protect employees, maintain productivity and ensure compliance with health and safety obligations

    • Key Risks Covered

      The toolbox talk highlights several core risk areas commonly associated with home working:

      • Workstation Set-Up – Unsafe layouts, trailing cables, poor access and inadequate space.
      • Working Environment – Insufficient heating, ventilation, lighting or glare control.
      • Display Screen Equipment (DSE) – Incorrect screen height, prolonged laptop use and lack of breaks.
      • Electrical Safety – Damaged equipment, overloaded sockets and poor cable management.
      • Emergency Preparedness – Fire safety arrangements, smoke detectors, first-aid access and accident reporting.

    • Employee Responsibilities

      All employees working from home should:

      • Maintain a safe, tidy and dedicated workstation.
      • Follow DSE guidance and complete required assessments.
      • Use work equipment correctly and report defects or concerns.
      • Take regular breaks to reduce fatigue and strain.
      • Notify their manager of any changes to their home working environment.
      • Report any work-related accidents promptly

    • Manager & Supervisor Responsibilities

      Managers and supervisors should:

      • Review and agree home working arrangements with each employee.
      • Ensure suitable equipment and guidance are provided.
      • Encourage open communication and address concerns quickly.
      • Monitor workload, wellbeing and isolation risks.
      • Review risk assessments when circumstances change

    • Key Discussion Points

      This toolbox talk works best when supported by open discussion, including:

      • What does a safe and suitable home workstation look like?
      • Has a DSE assessment been completed and reviewed?
      • Are there any environmental or equipment issues that need action?
      • How should hazards, incidents or changes be reported?

    • Download the Toolbox Talk PDF

      Working at Height – Flat Roofs - Toolbox Talk

      Ideal for team briefings, training sessions, or your health & safety records.

      Download Toolbox Talk

    Key Controls

    To manage the health, safety and wellbeing risks associated with home working, organisations should ensure the following controls are in place:

    • Workstation & DSE Controls

      • Completion of a home working DSE assessment for all regular home workers.
      • Provision of suitable equipment where required (e.g. adjustable chair, laptop riser, external keyboard and mouse).
      • Guidance on correct screen height, posture and workstation layout.
      • Encouragement of regular breaks and task variation to reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal risk.

    • Environment Controls

      Confirmation that the home working area is:

      • Adequately heated, ventilated and well lit.
      • Free from glare, excessive noise and trip hazards.
      • Clear guidance on maintaining safe floor conditions and cable management.

    • Electrical Safety Controls

      • Visual inspection checks of work-related electrical equipment before use.
      • Prohibition of overloaded sockets and unsafe extension leads.
      • Safe positioning of equipment to prevent overheating or obstruction.
      • Clear reporting process for damaged or defective equipment.

    • Fire & Emergency Controls

      • Smoke detectors installed on each level of the home where work is undertaken.
      • Clear evacuation arrangements, particularly where work is carried out upstairs.
      • Access to basic first-aid supplies.
      • Clear instructions on how to report work-related accidents or near misses.

    • Management & Communication Controls

      • Formal agreement of home working arrangements, reviewed regularly.
      • Ongoing manager check-ins to monitor:
        • Wellbeing and workload
        • Isolation or stress risks
        • Changes to the home working environment
      • Review of risk assessments following any significant change in circumstances.

    • Training & Awareness Controls

      • Provision of guidance and training on:
        • Safe home working practices
        • DSE awareness
        • Reporting hazards and incidents
      • Promotion of a culture where employees feel confident raising concerns early.

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    Your Questions Answered

    Everything you need to know about working at home working

    • Do employers have health and safety responsibilities for home workers?Reveal

      Yes. Employers retain responsibility for employees’ health and safety when they work from home. This includes ensuring risks are identified, suitable control measures are in place, and guidance is provided on safe working practices

    • Is a DSE assessment required for home working?Reveal

      Yes. Employees who use display screen equipment regularly must complete a DSE assessment for their home workstation. This helps reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, eye strain and fatigue.

    • Who is responsible for setting up a safe home workstation?Reveal

      It is a shared responsibility. Employees must follow guidance and maintain a safe setup, while employers must provide appropriate equipment, information and oversight.

    • What temperature should a home workspace be?Reveal

      As a general standard, work areas should be adequately heated, with temperatures of at least 16°C, or 13°C where physical effort is involved, in line with workplace guidance.

    • Do employers need to provide equipment for home working?Reveal

      Where risks are identified, employers should consider providing suitable equipment such as chairs, risers, keyboards or docking stations to ensure work can be carried out safely.

    • How should accidents that occur at home be reported?Reveal

      Any work-related accident occurring while working from home should be reported promptly using the organisation’s normal accident reporting procedures.

    • What should managers monitor for remote workers?Reveal

      Managers should monitor wellbeing, workload, isolation risks and any changes to home working arrangements that may affect health and safety.

    Where to find out more A collection of hand-picked useful resources for home working from impact HR and beyond

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