Part 2: Assessing the risks of homeworking

In general, there are five steps that employers must take to ensure that a proper risk assessment is carried out in any place of work. These are:

1. Identify any hazards

2. Decide who might be harmed and how

3. Assess the risks and take appropriate action to remove them or reduce them as far as possible

4. Record the findings

5. Check the risks from time to time and take further steps if needed

When it comes to identifying homeworker hazards it may be necessary for employers to visit the workers home to carry out the risk assessment. While it is possible for homeworkers to help identify the hazards without the need for a visit, employers should be aware that that the duty rests firmly with them. Well-designed self-assessment forms can be helpful here. Employers can of course use risk consultants or other "competent" service providers to undertake an assessment on their behalf.

In deciding who might be harmed and how, the HSE reminds employers that they must consider not only to the homeworker but "members of the household, including children or visitors".

When assessing the risks, if employers come across a hazard they must decide what steps have to be taken to eliminate, or reduce the risks as far as possible. What then happens depends largely on whether the hazard is considered low risk or high risk.

Employers can determine this by looking at what type of harm or injury may arise and how often it may happen. For example, there is greater risk of an accident from loose trailing wires if there are children in the home.

Employers may be able to remove the hazard altogether or take steps to lower the risk to an acceptable level. In the case of loose wires, they could be tucked away under a desk or table, or secured neatly around furniture out of the way.

Employers must also note that if they have five or more employees, including homeworkers, they are required by law to record the significant findings from a risk assessment. They must note down what steps need to be taken and inform homeworkers, or anyone else affected by the work being done, about the findings.

Even if employers have less than five workers, they may choose to record those significant findings as it may prove to be useful in the event of an unforeseen incident and a subsequent HSE investigation.

Finally, the HSE say that is important for employers to check their risk assessment from time to time, especially if there is a change in working procedures. "The assessment needs to take into account any new hazards that may cause harm to the health or safety of homeworkers, or other people affected by a change in working conditions."