The Coronavirus pandemic has completely transformed the working world, with so many of us having to spend prolonged periods of time working from home due to lockdown restrictions which have been in place at various stages since March.
These changes are leading to a shift in the workplace culture with many businesses considering permanent remote working and a move away from the office.
A change in circumstances can bring significant changes in your rights, including what happens regarding accidents in the workplace. In this article, our personal injury experts will explain what this means in terms of your rights.
Does my employer have a duty of care to look after my safety when I work from home?
The Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 does not apply to domestic properties. However, your employer is still expected to take reasonable care regarding your safety when working from home, unfortunately, the extent of this is limited as your employer does not have much control over your own home.
Is the duty of care dependant on the type of work I am carrying out?
The extent of the duty of your employer is dependent on the type of work you are carrying out at home. Your employer would be expected to carry out a risk assessment of the work to be carried out and consider the suitability of you carrying out that work at home generally.
If the work is suitable for the home, your employer would then be expected to consider with you whether your specific home was suitable for the work to be carried out.
For example, if you were making products at home such as clothes, your employer could be expected to check you had sufficient space to make and store the products safely to avoid tripping accidents or items falling on you.
Would my employer have to visit my home to carry out an inspection?
It is extremely rare for an employer to need to visit your home to carry out an inspection. They would be more likely to discuss appropriate health and safety measures with you.
If I have an accident working at home – Is my employer liable?
As the owner of the property, there is a significant responsibility on yourself to ensure your own safety, but your employer would be expected to provide you with the tools and skills for you to do so and ensure that equipment is safe and fully functional to allow you to carry out the work.
This means that if you were to suffer an accident working at home, your employer is likely to only be liable if it was due to their negligence and that they had failed to take reasonable care for your safety and the accident was due to their negligence.
You can rely on Knightsbridge Solicitors to guide you through your personal injury claim. Contact our team of personal injury specialists today via our online enquiry form or by calling 0115 824 1700.