Occupational
Safety and Health
Guidance on
Remote Working
C H ECKL IST
[Link]
Version 1
Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work
Assessment Checklist for Remote Working
When completing the assessment, the employee’s interaction with the
workstation should be examined (for example, duration spent at the workstation
and workstation location), and account taken of the work activities. The
assessment should consider Part 2, 3 and 4 of the Act2 and the requirements in
the General Application Regulations.3
It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure, employees’ safety, health, and welfare
as far as reasonably practicable, the both when they are in the workplace and
safety, health and welfare of employees. when they work remotely. Employers should
The employer has a duty to provide safe ensure that the system of work for those
systems of work and to manage who work remotely is reasonable.
NOTE:
• It is the employer’s responsibility to proactively ensure that the remote work assessment
is completed for each employee by a suitably trained and competent person. The remote
work assessment can be carried out virtually through the use of webcam or other visual media device
• Additional controls if identified during the assessment can be added to Sections 3, 4 and
5 and any other relevant information can be added to Section 7 of the checklist.
Step 1 - Work activity
Identify who is working remotely, the type of work to be undertaken remotely, and what
equipment or resources are required.
Section 1 - Employee information
Name:
Location:
Job Title:
Work Activity:
Assessor:
Manager:
Section 2 - Work equipment
Where an employer provides work equipment such as computers, laptops, display screens,
keyboards, chairs or desks, they are responsible for maintaining the work equipment provided.
Where an employee uses their own work equipment, the employer is responsible for ensuring
that work equipment is suitable to meet the requirements for the employee’s safety and health.
1. Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (Number 10 of 2005)
2. S.I. No. 299 of 2007 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 Chapter 5 and Schedule 4 Minimum
Requirements for all Display Screen Equipment which includes information on the monitor, keyboard, and work desk.
2 Occupational Safety and Health Guidance on Remote Working
Work Equipment Provided In use Suitable for Equipment Identified / Required
by: Remote Work for Undertaking Remote Work
Desk
Chair
Laptop
Desktop Computer
Display Screen
(Monitor)
Keyboard
Mouse
Task Lighting
Docking Station
Document Holder
Footrest
Wrist Rest
Mobile Phone
Headset
Further information
[Link] 3
Step 2 - Remote work assessment
The assessment of the hazards and risks at the place of work needs to take account of the:
• Work environment,
• Workstation including display screen equipment (DSE) and work equipment,
• Employee health and welfare, including sensitive risk workers and those with disabilities, and
• Communication and incident reporting.
Section 3 - Work environment
Work environment means the place where work is carried out (for example, in a domestic
setting, remote working hub or other location) and environmental conditions associated with
the place of work. Certain hazards may be relevant depending on the place of work or work
activity. For more information visit [Link].
Controls Yes No N/A Notes
Place of work
Is the place of work suitable for the work to be
undertaken, and is it safe?
Lighting
Is suitable lighting (for example natural, task
lighting) available for the type of work being
carried out and the employees’ vision?
Is additional task lighting required?
Heating and Ventilation
Can temperatures be regulated? (For most
people an acceptable temperature for office
work lies within the range of 180C to 230C).
Is there adequate ventilation in the workplace?
Ventilation can be regulated naturally (window or
door) or mechanically.
Electricity
Is the employee aware that they should check
and advise their employer of any defects?
Is electrical equipment provided to employees
used correctly, checked for frayed wires, signs of
burns or melting, and is unsafe equipment taken
out of use?
Is there an adequate number of sockets
available?
4 Occupational Safety and Health Guidance on Remote Working
Safe Access
Is there safe access to and from the remote
workplace?
Emergency Planning
Is there a plan in place in case of an emergency?
Housekeeping
Is the workstation area clear of trailing cables
and other trip hazards?
Is the employee made aware to keep the area
clear?
Additional Identified Controls
[Link] 5
Section 4 - Workstation including Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and work equipment
Workstation - means an assembly comprising of display screen equipment, which may
be provided with a keyboard or input device, software or a combination of the following:
• Work chair, work desk or work surface; and
• Other work equipment or peripherals. For example, footrest, document holder, docking station.
The employer is responsible for providing and maintaining work equipment identified for the
work such as computers, monitors, keyboards, chairs, desks etc., or equipment identified
following a risk assessment.
NOTE: Employees can use their own equipment if deemed suitable.
Controls Yes No N/A Notes
Desk and Workstation
Is there enough knee clearance underneath the
workstation?
Is there enough space to allow the employee to
change position and vary movements?
Is the area clutter free so that the employee can
focus easily on the task?
Is a document holder required to read
documents?
Chair
Is the chair provided stable, adjustable in height,
allows freedom of movement, and provides lower
back support?
Is the chair set up so that the forearms are level
with the desk?
Does the chair have a back rest which is
adjustable in height and has the employee been
advised to sit back in their seat in order to get
good lumbar support?
Is the chair provided adjustable to allow feet to
rest flat on the floor or is a footrest supplied?
Is a footrest required?
6 Occupational Safety and Health Guidance on Remote Working
Display Screen
Is the screen positioned to avoid glare and
reflection (for example, sit at 90 degrees to a
window to avoid glare)?
Can the screen swivel and tilt easily?
Is the screen positioned so that the top of the
screen is at eye level or slightly below and avoids
sustained bending of the neck?
Is the screen free of reflective glare and are
reflections liable to cause discomfort?
Is the screen set up at a comfortable distance
(for example, arm length away)?
Is the image on the screen stable with no
flickering?
Are the characters on the display screen well
defined, clearly formed of adequate size and
with adequate spacing?
Has the employee been informed that they
should relax their shoulders when viewing the
screen?
Keyboard and Mouse
Is the laptop or PC connected to an external
keyboard and mouse?
Is a neutral wrist posture maintained when typing
(for example, no bending of the wrist)?
Can the slope angle of the keyboard be adjusted
to allow the employee to find a comfortable
position?
Are the mouse and keyboard within easy reach
and is space provided in front of the keyboard?
Are wrist rests required?
Musculoskeletal
Has the employee been advised to change
posture frequently and to stand and move at
least every 30 minutes?
Has the employee been advised to avoid back-
to-back video calls or online meetings so that
they do not sit for long periods of time?
[Link] 7
Does the employee get aches, pains, tingling or
pins and needles in the hands, arms, shoulders,
neck or back area when using the workstation?
Communication
Is a headset / speaker or microphone provided?
Is a headset / speaker or microphone required
for communciation?
Manual Handling
Is the employee required to conduct manual
handling while remote working? (If yes, has that
employee been trained)?
Eye Examinations
Have employees who use DSE been informed of
the provisions for eyesight testing and how to
avail of eyesight testing?
Are eye and eyesight tests provided as needed?
Does the employee regularly suffer from blurred
or poor vision, sore eyes or headaches while
using the display screen equipment?
Other Considerations
Has the assessment of workstation including
display screen equipment (DSE) and work
equipment considered the needs of sensitive
workers including those with disabilities?
Has the employee been provided with
information and training to ensure they can carry
out their work safely?
Where the employee has more than one remote
working location, have additional supports,
guidance and training been provided to
assist them to set up at other remote working
locations?
Additional Identified Controls
8 Occupational Safety and Health Guidance on Remote Working
Section 5 - Consultation, communication and incident reporting
Maintaining good consultation and communication with remote workers helps determine
whether the safety and health arrangements are working.
Keeping good records, reviewing and following up on corrective actions ensures a safe
remote work environment.
Controls Yes No N/A Notes
Consultation and Communication
Are arrangements in place to consult with
employees?
Are there arrangements in place for keeping in
contact, and is the employee informed of these?
Is there an established means of contact for
communicating and providing updates (for
example, via phone, web or email as required)?
Can employees report safety and health issues
(for example, health related issues, workload,
faulty equipment etc.)?
Are arrangements in place to report psychosocial
issues (for example, work related stress, difficulties
maintaining boundaries between home and
work, social isolation, managing change in work,
bullying etc.)?
Incident Reporting
Has the employee been advised of the
procedures for reporting any work-related
incidents, (for example, musculoskeletal
discomfort)?
Additional Identified Controls
[Link] 9
Step 3 - Monitor, review and communicate with employees regularly
Section 6 - Records management
In this section it is important to capture any identified corrective actions and to ensure
that follow up measures are actioned. The remote working assessment needs to be
reviewed on a regular basis and this can vary depending on the type of remote working
location(s) and frequency of remote work.
Date Assessment Carried Out:
Employee Name: Employee Signature: Date:
Assessor Name: Assessor Signature: Date:
Date Corrective Actions
Corrective Actions Identified:
Were Completed:
10 Occupational Safety and Health Guidance on Remote Working
Date of Next Review:
Section 7 - Additional information or notes
Additional Notes:
[Link] 11
Position Yourself Well Visit [Link]
Adjust monitor so that:
Adjust seat so that:
the screen is as far away as
the desk is just underneath forearms; hands, is comfortable or about an
wrists and forearms are parallel to the floor; arm’s length away;
your thighs are fully supported on the chair and the top of screen is at or
parallel to the floor; use a footrest if needed; and slightly below eye level.
your thighs, knees and back of legs are clear
of surfaces.
Avoid twisting the upper body and
Sit upright and all the way back in the chair. position the keyboard and mouse Take breaks and
Sit facing work area. next to each other and near enough stand and/or
Shoulders relaxed and head naturally balanced. so that elbows are close to the body. move frequently
Further Information and Guidance:
Visit our website at [Link]
Telephone our contact centre on 0818 289 389 or email
contactus@[Link]. Use [Link], our free online risk
assessment tool.. Check out our range of free online
courses at [Link]