{"id":8708,"date":"2020-06-29T07:27:59","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T07:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/?p=8708"},"modified":"2023-12-01T06:06:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T06:06:16","slug":"are-home-offices-dangerous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/future-of-work\/are-home-offices-dangerous\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Home Offices Dangerous?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8708\" class=\"elementor elementor-8708\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-416c5148 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"416c5148\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4f2ebf51\" data-id=\"4f2ebf51\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c877065 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c877065\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As the world unexpectedly embraced work from home models this spring, home offices and video call backgrounds have become a hot topic.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ratemyskyperoom?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Social media<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2020\/03\/25\/how-to-change-your-zoom-background-coronavirus-video-conferencing-work-from-home-wfh-home-office-decor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a0business articles<\/a>, and even\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.californiaclosets.com\/home-office\/?CC0=Google&amp;CC1=MA057&amp;CC2=NE&amp;CC3=US-MA057-New_England_CT_RI-G-NB-XM&amp;CC4=home%20office%20design&amp;CC5=30021&amp;CC6=30026&amp;CC11=65541502539&amp;CC12=&amp;CC13=&amp;CC14=337789092222&amp;CC15=c&amp;CC16=&amp;CC18=e&amp;CC19=g&amp;CC20=&amp;CC21=kwd-25361051&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=US-MA057-New_England_CT_RI-G-NB-XM&amp;kpid=go_1677214737_65541502539_337789092222_kwd-25361051_c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reputable brands<\/a>\u00a0are all buzzing about what our new residential workspaces look like; but no one is talking about how they should perform, and the omission of that single topic could be putting our national workforce at risk.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee1ab11 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee1ab11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Established in 1971, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established to reduce workplace injuries, and has been silently protecting professionals for the half-century since. Maybe too silently. While many physical labors regularly receive occupational safety training, most office workers have absolutely no idea how many hundreds of hours and millions of dollars are invested into making their office environments OSHA-compliant. They\u2019re unaware the light bulbs are carefully selected to be a specific wattage, desk and chair heights are controlled, extra electrical outlets are installed specifically to eliminate cord clutter, even monitor size and placement on each desk is strategically calculated to prevent harm or accidents.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b48426 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b48426\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5518e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c5518e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>All of those seemingly small details add up to the short- and long-term protection of the workplace occupants, saving both the employer and the employee the financial and physical costs of injury. But most office professionals have no idea about occupational safety regulations. The meticulous design and construction is taken for granted, and the professionals go about their work days, completely oblivious to the figurative bubble wrap around them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-743da73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"743da73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Bob Nichols, Occupational Safety Attorney and Partner at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bracewell.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bracewell<\/a>\u00a0explains, \u201cThere are inherent safety benefits to working from home, especially the decrease of traffic accidents on expressways during high commuting hours. But those automatic rewards, along with previously-existing resources, are the only support we can expect for now. In terms of enforcing and regulating safety criteria in offsite workspaces, we\u2019re not going to see a solution from OSHA and other federal agencies for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>How do we protect ourselves and our teams in the meantime? Thankfully, Telework.gov offers a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.telework.gov\/federal-community\/telework-employees\/safety-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Home Office Safety Checklist<\/a>\u00a0to get us started and open our eyes about the most common dangers for work-from-home professionals:\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efbed80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"efbed80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tripping Hazards and Cord Placement\u00a0<\/strong>&#8211; Without the luxury of a corporate electrician designing and installing our outlets, it\u2019s common to have cords and extension cords snaking around our desk or accidentally placed to heat sources.\u00a0Not to mention household additions like children, pets, or laundry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shock and Fire Hazards<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Mismanaged power cords, outlets, paper clutter, and a lack of an accessible fire extinguisher could put your entire household and neighborhood in danger.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lighting and Glare<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Your audio and visual health is important too, and in a work environment that is so dependent on screens and headsets, it\u2019s a topic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/synchronous-vs-asynchronous-communication-for-remote-teams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remote workers<\/a> can\u2019t escape.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ergonomics\u00a0<\/strong>&#8211; Sitting might sound relaxing, but working in a sedentary position with improper support for your back, knees, and wrists for 8 hours each day can result in extreme injuries over time.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f0165c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f0165c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Lest you believe that this topic is irrelevant to you, here\u2019s a reality check. I\u2019ve been a remote worker for 13 years, remote work thought leader for three, I have a professional background in both office management and corporate interior design, am the founder of the world\u2019s top consulting firm specializing exclusively on virtual jobs, and write remote work policies that include extensive sections about workplace safety requirements. All of that is to say, I\u2019ve thought about this topic extensively and have taken extra measures to create a dedicated, ergonomic workspace in a spare bedroom of my home. But while writing this article, I took 5 minutes to inspect my office using the checklist from Telework.gov. Guess what? On the list of 34 criteria, I didn\u2019t comply with 11 of them. That\u2019s over one third of the regulations! Chances are if a telework expert is unknowingly at such a dangerous level of noncompliance, you and the rest of your staff are too.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So, how do we fill the gap? The change management process of implementing a compliance plan can take months, and you don\u2019t want to put yourself or your company at risk of a worker\u2019s compensation claim in the meantime.\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c34304a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c34304a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here are 3 steps that you can implement in less than a week to get you and your team on the road to workplace safety and compliance:\u00a0<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Start the conversation\u00a0<\/strong>&#8211; Ignorance is the biggest culprit of this problem, so take some time to create some training materials or activities about the topic. People are less likely to participate if they feel pressured, guilty, overwhelmed, or embarrassed, so keep the topic light and the engagement fun.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Allocate a stipend for office enhancements<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Times are tough right now, so your team may not be willing or able to invest in an ergonomic chair or surge protector out of pocket. Make it easier for them to follow through by footing the bill.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Schedule regular checks<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; Protecting your team isn\u2019t a temporary issue, your maintenance and enforcement shouldn\u2019t be either. Coordination with your human resources and facilities departments to make a long-term plan, including quarterly inspections.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It\u2019s probably only a matter of time before we see a home office renovation show on HGTV, but in the meantime, it\u2019s up to you to create a workspace that can both fuel your productivity and protect you as a valuable asset of your company. But remember that the key to corporate design is as much about safety and sustainability as aesthetics. Please, design responsibly.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Now, amidst a dramatic global workplace shift, professionals around the world have retreated to their homes and immediately became responsible for their own office design. Here are 3 steps that you can implement in less than a week to get you and your team on the road to workplace safety and compliance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":813,"featured_media":8709,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[182],"tags":[264,379,380,381],"ppma_author":[3654],"class_list":["post-8708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-future-of-work","tag-compliance","tag-home-office","tag-own-office-design","tag-workplace-safety"],"authors":[{"term_id":3654,"user_id":813,"is_guest":0,"slug":"laurel-farrer","display_name":"Laurel Farrer","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/13e97f8f71df940497a20f15573f43f457e48e7523e51d9462ec2bb3aab9bba1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"http:\/\/distributeconsulting.com","last_name":"Farrer","first_name":"Laurel","job_title":"","description":"Laurel Farrer is CEO anf Founder at Distribute Consulting that collaborates with the world's top remote-friendly companies to strengthen virtual communication, streamline digital processes, and develop long-distance management strategies. She also writes about remote work for several online publications and education platforms and advises US governments, business conferences, and industry associations on how to share remote work resources with their audiences to stimulate economic growth."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/813"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8708"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34581,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8708\/revisions\/34581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8708"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.experfy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=8708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}