Home based worksite checklist

The Home-based Worksite Checklist

It’s the responsibility of an employee to be aware of their surroundings and working conditions, and to ensure their worksite is safe and compliant.

The HIA’s Home-based Worksite Checklist is designed to assist employees to determine the suitability of their worksite and ensure it complies with Workplace Health and Safety requirements.

What should I consider when my employees are working from home?

Communication

Talk to your employee about how you can communicate regularly – for example, call-in or email morning and afternoon. 

Ask your employees to let you know if there is any change that may impact their health and safety.  

Aim to put any agreed communications strategy with the worker in writing.

Mental health

Ask your employee to consider setting up their workstation and establish boundaries around their work hours with their partner, children and/or housemates.

Schedule regular meetings and catch-ups with your manager, team and clients to help you maintain ongoing contact and foster positive working relationships.

Stay connected via phone, email and/or online (via your organisation’s videoconferencing, instant messaging platforms, etc.) to keep you across latest developments with work, your team and organisation.

Use outdoor spaces where possible when you take breaks and try to incorporate some exercise or other activity as part of your working day. 

Play music or listen to the radio to create a harmonious working environment. 

Identify any potential distractions and put strategies in place to minimise them – for example. separating your workstation from the rest of the house.