25.10.2024
WORKING REMOTELY COMES WITH RISKS
Remote workers are exposed to safety risks, warns the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
Digital technologies such as personal computers, smartphones, laptops, software packages and the Internet allow people to work remotely, ie. off the employers' premises for most or part of their working time. During the covid pandemic, remote work became more common, and hybrid work — a combination of remote and on-premises work — gained popularity after the emergency. In 2022, 18% of workers in the EU-27, Iceland and Norway worked mostly from home.
In addition to remote workers, among the people who are in remote mode are also those who work on customer premises (6%); outdoors, for example on a construction site, on city streets or in agricultural areas (5.5%); in a car or other vehicle (3.5%) and in public places such as cafes or airports (2%). Although the majority (65%) worked on employers' premises, telecommuting was the practice for a third of the workforce in these countries.
Digital technologies have many advantages and are crucial for remote working, but their use is associated with a number of psychosocial and physical risks:
Advantages:
- Saving time and reducing travel stress;
- Better balance between professional and personal life;
- Increased productivity and concentration.
Disadvantages:
- Increase in prolonged sitting and stress from work deadlines;
- Long working hours and social isolation that can endanger health;
- Risks of musculoskeletal disorders (pain in the neck, wrists and fingers) due to improper arrangement of work equipment;
- Eye fatigue from poor lighting and long time in front of screens.
Organizations have a critical role to play in preventing the risks associated with remote and hybrid work. The first step is a mandatory risk assessment, which should cover teleworking in accordance with EU and national legislation. When the work is done off the employer's premises, the workplace conditions and the associated risks to safe and healthy work are more unpredictable and beyond the direct control of the company.
Therefore, the participation of the employer and the employees in the risk assessment process is very important. In addition to providing background information on taking next steps toward an action plan, the risk assessment process creates mutual awareness among remote workers and an organization's management. Telecommuters increasingly perform their work duties in different locations, such as on the move, while traveling for work or leisure. They use fewer standard workstations.
Any public space can potentially be used as a place to work, for example parks, public transport, airports, train stations, libraries, etc. Traditional places where local communities gather - cafes, bars and restaurants - are also used as workplaces. Although accessible, these spaces are unpredictable because their conditions do not depend on the workers or employers.
Depending on the location, the number of physical risks may vary. For example, working outdoors can have consequences from exposure to ultraviolet light, widely recognized as a risk factor for cancer, or have negative consequences for the eyes given the inappropriate lighting conditions when working with laptops and smartphones. Long and frequent work on a train or plane can lead to greater exposure to noise and vibration.
For prevention in this connection, work is being done diligently with regard to the work with video displays. The working group on Directive 90/270/EEC is discussing changes regarding the definition and scope of the concept of workplace and the use of screen equipment. In addition to the use of a stationary computer, the directive can also be applied when the worker uses portable screen equipment - laptop, tablet, etc., for which new minimum requirements are provided for its use, as well as expanding the scope to include risky factors - ergonomics and psychosocial risk in the workplace.
Both workers and employers can contribute to ensuring safety and health in telework and hybrid schemes by providing workers with equipment, digital technologies, technical support and guidance on their safe use. Employers can provide training and educational activities to raise awareness of safe working anywhere and put in place a clear policy on remote and hybrid working. So remote workers can optimize the ergonomics and environment of their workplace, move around, change their posture, be active and take regular breaks.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work emphasizes that safety and health in the workplace are fundamental factors for the general well-being of workers and operational efficiency.
The European Week for Safety and Health at Work is an important tool for raising awareness of workplace risks and promoting healthy practices.
