Safety inspection for working at home

All B.C. government employee’s workspaces must be safe and appropriate for the tasks they're completing.

Managers and supervisors have a duty to ensure the health and safety of employees; the basic safety measures on this page must be reviewed before an employee is approved to work from home.

On this page

• Safe work area
• Ergonomics
• Working alone call-in procedures
• Reporting

Safe work area

An employee’s workspace must be safe and appropriate for the tasks they're completing. These basic safety measures must be reviewed before an employee is approved to work from home:

• Is the designated work area free of tripping obstructions such as extensions cords, loose carpets, tiles or uneven floor surfaces?
• Does the work area have grounded electrical outlets?
• Are power cords in good condition, or are they broken or scorched?
• Are power bar surge protectors plugged in to the wall socket?
• Are there hazards present in the designated work area such as asbestos, tobacco smoke or exhaust in the workspace?
• Is there mold or excess dust?
• Is there adequate lighting to complete the work?
• Is there excessive noise or other distractions?
• Is there a risk of violence in the area that would create a high risk for the employee working from home?
  • For example: have there been robberies, home invasions or vandalism occurring in the neighbourhood?
• Does the employee have a basic emergency plan for their home?

Employees working from home must reduce or remove these risks and inform their supervisor of steps they have taken.

Ergonomics

Home workspaces should be appropriate for your tasks. You must have a suitable, ergonomically adjustable chair allowing for neutral posture. Folding tables, coffee tables and other low tables or working off a couch are not acceptable options. Tables and desks must be sturdy and allow you to sit in your chair close to the table edge with your legs beneath the table.

A laptop on its own does not allow for an ergonomically correct setup. Laptops only allow for the monitor or the keyboard to be placed at the correct height.

To achieve proper setup:  

• Use an external keyboard and mouse and elevate the laptop to get the correct screen height
• Use an external monitor to achieve proper monitor height and use the laptop keyboard directly on the work surface

Setting up your workspace

• As part of your telework agreement, complete the Computer Workstation Self Setup E-Tool (IDIR restricted)
• Let your supervisor know of any items from the setup tool you could not adjust or equipment that's not suitable
• If you require further guidance or setup, your supervisor can request support from workplace health and safety through AskMyHR (IDIR restricted)
• An ergonomic assessment can be done by video with a trained ergonomics assessor
• Review 'Safety Tips for Desk Ergonomics' video

Working alone call-in procedures

Under WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, the BC Public Service must have a system in place to check on employee well-being when they're working alone or in isolation. 

Since family members and the presence of others that may render assistance cannot be guaranteed, teleworking is considered working alone and a check-in system must be in place between the employee and their supervisor or a designate.

If you're working from home and your manager has not set something up, initiate that conversation.

At a minimum, employees working from home or another location outside the office must check in and out with their supervisor or designate at the following points in the day:

• At the start of the scheduled workday
• Prior to moving or changing work location, other than moving locations within in your telework location
• Before leaving for work-related appointments that require leaving your telework location
• When stopping work for a personal appointment (for example: attending a dental appointment), check out prior to stopping work and leaving for the appointment and check in when beginning work again
• You should include the time and the new location
• Immediately after you return from your outside appointment
• At the end of the scheduled workday

For more information, refer to Sample Check In and Out Procedures for Working Alone (PDF, 4MB).

An easy way to help supervisors and teleworkers stay updated is for employees to share their Outlook calendar with their supervisor and team members. Employees should keep their calendar up to date and private appointments can be locked to limit visibility. 

While WorkSafeBC prefers a visual check-in, it can be done by email, phone or instant message:

• Working alone risk assessment and check-in 

Ministries can also use an automated call-in procedure.

These working alone and check-in procedures are the minimum. The time between checks must be decided upon between employees and their supervisor in consultation with their joint occupational health and safety committee or health and safety representative.

Missed check-in, or out while teleworking?

Checking in with your supervisor while teleworking is an important way to let your supervisor know you're healthy and safe.

If you have not checked in at the beginning of the workday, your supervisor will try to contact you on your work email, phone or instant message.

If unsuccessful, they will use your emergency contacts and or personal phone number to try and reach you.

If your supervisor cannot reach you, they may need request a wellness check from the police.

For more information about working alone or check-in and out procedures, contact 'Workplace Health and Safety' through AskMyHR (IDIR restricted).

Reporting

Employees working remotely must report any work-related injuries to their supervisor:

• WorkSafeBC claims for B.C. government employees

If any new hazards (review Safe work area for examples) in your designed workspace occur, you must report them to your supervisor and discuss how to mitigate or eliminate them.