How to manage OH&S for teleworkers?

[tracker]

Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of the interactions among humans and other elements of a system.
Ergonomists ( trained professionals ) contribute to the planning, design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, organizations, environments and systems in order to make them compatible with the needs, abilities and limitations of people and their working enviroment.
Fatigue is caused by prolonged periods of physical and/or mental exertion without enough time to rest and recover. The level of fatigue varies, and depends on and can be contributed to by :
•Workload;
•Length of the shift;
•Previous hours and days worked; and
•Time of day or night worked.
•Extended working hours;
•Irregular and unpredictable working hours;
•Time of day when work is performed and sleep obtained;
•Shift work;
•Having more than one job
•Stress involved in the work including mental, physical and enviroment like heat and cold.

They can all be monitored ( not that they always are ) at a normal workplace but when working at home the employer must consider if they form a hazard in the workplace, the controls needed and that monitoring is carried out to ensure all that can reasonably be done to minimise the risk is done.

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[Sally M]

While there is an increasing propensity for white collar employers to allow some staff to work from home from time to time, there is one profession that comes to mind where employees are actually expected to work from home - teachers in secondary schools.

I don't know how much this applies in State schools, but in the private schools there is a clear expectation that staff will work from home in the evenings and weekends, to do marking, report writing or curriculum material preparation.

So are schools responsible for OH&S when teachers are working from home?

[tracker]

Sally

When you say " actually expected to work from home " you are getting into Industrial Relations territory. You need to look at their contract of employment, Position Descriptions and hours of work etc etc - are they being directed to work or are they carrying it out because they believe they are expected to ?
Empoyees forget that if you are directed to work you should be paid but, out a sense of duty and / or convience, carry out unpaid work. The employer doesn't ask questions because they get the final result, but if you asked them they would say " they were not directed and I have no control of them out of working hours "
If you have questions in the area of IR talk to your Union as they will give a clear answer on your rights and how it would be viewed by Fair Work Australia or the State IR Commission ( if you have one ).

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