Homeworker Risk Assessment

This Home Working Risk Assessment Form should be used when someone uses their home as a place of work. If they are employed, their employer owes the same duty of care to the employee as if they were at the employer’s place of work, so a risk assessment is required in order to identify any potential hazards at the premises. If an individual is self-employed, they still have a duty of care to anyone who comes to the house on business.

The form can be used alongside the Home Working Policy and Home Working Agreement when putting home working arrangements in place.

As homes are generally not intended to be workplaces, working from home requires a specific assessment of such things as:

• where the employee will set up their desk or workstation so as not to cause excessive interference with family life, for example whether they have a spare bedroom or study, or will work in the lounge or dining room;
• the carrying out of a fire risk assessment and, if needed, provision of smoke detectors;
• suitable storage for tools or materials, or for any business stock; and
• the suitability of the home environment to act as a meeting place for work visitors or customers. Small businesses can probably conduct the risk assessment themselves; however, larger businesses may want to seek the advice of a health and safety expert.

Homeworker Risk Assessment is part of Employment. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment for 1 year.