Since teleworking has become a way of life for many people, the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources has published these tips for keeping a safe remote working environment.
- Keep a clear path
- Keep your home work space neat, clean, and free of obstructions with a clear path to an exit in case of emergency.
- Check your floor
- Check your floors and walkways and clear away any trip hazards such as torn carpeting, broken tiles, or other potential causes of instability.
- Protect your devices
- Plug your electronic devices into a surge protector to ensure that valuable electronic equipment is safe from damage caused by any power surges.
- Plug it in right
- Surge protectors should be plugged directly into a wall outlet, and not an extension cord or another surge protector.
- Check for damaged cords
- Inspect all electrical cords for any signs of fray or damage. If you see any, be sure to replace them immediately as they can become a fire hazard.
- Organize your cables
- All phone lines, cables, electrical cords, and other trip hazards should be organized and placed away from foot traffic.
- Keep it ergonomically friendly
- When setting up your home work station, make sure your mouse, keyboard, and monitor are positioned in an ergonomically-friendly way. Monitors should be positioned in a way that avoids neck strain. Office chairs should provide proper support and promote good posture.
- Maintain proper posture
- Your chair allows you to sit with the proper posture. This helps reduce back pain or other physical discomforts. Maintaining proper posture throughout the day will help alleviate any discomfort.
- Lighting is important
- Make certain that you have sufficient lighting for reading and working. Don’t strain your eyes!
- Check the furniture
- Do a quick safety check of your furniture. Make sure it’s stable and free of any defects that could compromise your safety.
- Inspect electrical outlets
- Look over your electrical outlets, and make sure the cover plates are in good condition. They should not be cracked, broken, or missing.
- Smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher are a must
- Your home should have a working smoke detector and fire extinguisher. It’s even more important to have these when adding extra electronics to your home for telework purposes.
- Plan for a safe exit in the case of an emergency
- You should always have an exit plan for your home or telework space in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or natural disaster. Make sure exits are clear of debris, and identify multiple exit points.