Safe Work Australia releases resources to manage WHS risks of working from home

Safe Work Australia Releases Resources to Manage WHS Risks of Working From Home

Safe Work Australia has published new resources to help workers control the WHS risks of working from home. These materials give practical direction for identifying hazards and managing risks in remote work settings.

Safe Work Australia confirmed that workplace health and safety regulations apply when staff work from home, just as they do in traditional workplaces such as offices. The guidance outlines steps for meeting your health and safety obligations while working remotely.

Why This Guidance Matters for Remote Work Arrangements

Home-based setups introduce hazards that differ from a standard office environment. Poor ergonomics, isolation, and inadequate workspace design can all affect employee wellbeing over time.

The resources help businesses identify hazards, assess risks, and put suitable controls in place, supporting a consistent approach to health and safety across on-site and remote teams alike.

Practical Steps for Managing WHS Risks

• Identify hazards specific to home-based workstations, including lighting, seating, and electrical safety
• Assess risks associated with isolation, mental health, and reduced supervision
• Implement control measures such as ergonomic equipment or scheduled check-ins
• Review your working from home policy regularly to reflect changing circumstances
• Provide employees with clear channels to report hazards or concerns

A well-documented Working from Home Management Plan gives organisations a structured way to apply this guidance in daily practice.

More Resources From Safe Work Australia

These materials build on earlier releases, including guidance covering work-related psychosocial hazards and updates on new WHS data. Organisations tracking compliance trends may also find the recent update on WHS prosecutions useful for benchmarking their own practices.

More details are accessible here.