Home Office Safety Tips

Throughout the pandemic, many employers shifted their staff to remote work settings to promote health, safety, and well-being. With this quick transition and lack of planning, many Canadians had to make do with what they had available at the time. This included setting up their workspaces at the kitchen table, on couches or other makeshift setups.

Fast forward two years, we have refined our workstations to be more ergonomically friendly and modified to our workflows. Although many Canadians may have adapted their remote workspaces, it is still important to review for efficiency, effectiveness, and comfort. Here are a few tips to consider:

Adequate Lighting

A light that is too dim can strain your eyes in an attempt to focus—this can lead to headaches and drowsiness.
A light that is too bright can lead to glare, reflections, headaches, and eye strain.
Find a balance—bright, but not overly, to optimize your productivity and minimize physical impacts.

Ergonomics

Implementing ergonomic solutions can make you more comfortable, reduce strains in the neck and back and boost productivity.
As you will be seated for a prolonged period each day, you will want to make your space as comfortable as possible.
This includes using ergonomic chairs and keyboards, a mouse that conforms to the shape of your hand, cushions, armrest, and appropriate angling of your monitor.
A workspace that is not optimized for ergonomics can lead to pain, musculoskeletal issues, and significant health issues.

Privacy

Consider setting up your office in a less busy part of your home, such as a room with a door. This will help to avoid distractions and increase productivity.

Electrical Outlets

You will likely need more than one outlet at your desk. If you are lacking outlets, consider hiring an electrician to have more installed.

Home Wi-Fi

While working from home, you will need to secure your Wi-Fi network against unauthorized access.
Be sure to change the default name of your home Wi-Fi, use a complex password, enable network encryption, keep your router’s software up to date and ensure you have a good firewall.
If you are in a role that deals with sensitive client information, make sure your organization provides you with a VPN.

Selecting the Right Space

Working from home has great benefits but one of the downsides is the inability to “power-off” and disengage.
A simple way to help with this is to set up your workspace in an area that is different from where you relax.
Working in a space such as your bedroom can lead to an increase in anxiety levels and inability to sleep as your mind associates the space with work.

#GoWithTIM

The Insurance Market hopes that you will take these tips and apply them to your home office space. It is important to incorporate smart workplace management and hygiene into your remote work habits to help boost your overall physical and mental state.

To learn more about this topic, visit the Canada Safety Council website