Taiwan – The Ministry Of Labor Established The “Reference Guidelines For Occupational Safety And Health At Home Work”.

25 August 2021
 

In response to companies adopting home office methods to maintain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Labor issued the "Home Work Occupational Safety and Health Reference Guidelines" on June 23, 110, providing safety and health issues that companies should consider when adopting home work measures.

In accordance with the reference guidelines for occupational safety and health in home work, employers should work with home workers to identify and evaluate potential safety and health hazards and physical and mental health effects that they may encounter when performing their duties. Within the scope, take necessary preventive equipment or measures.

The focus of the home work assessment includes: 1. Whether the work performed by the worker is suitable for home work; 2. Whether the worker can work normally with the support of appropriate environment and equipment; 3. Whether the worker's home work area is appropriate or potentially hazardous; 4. Home work Types and operating conditions, including the possible harm to physical and mental health of factors such as long hours, abnormal workload, alienation, etc.

Based on the assessment results of home work, employers should take necessary measures within a reasonable range to provide home workers with necessary equipment, help maintain a suitable home working environment, use appropriate desks, chairs, screens, keyboards, and mice, and provide video Equipment and software support to ensure the stable operation of communication facilities. In addition, employers should also conduct physical and mental health management, education and training for home workers, and ensure that home workers and colleagues maintain good communication. For homeworkers with children, the elderly or sicknesses, employers should maintain flexibility in working hours and work schedules, and at the same time let homeworkers know clearly the employer’s expectations for work output.

Regarding the above-mentioned guidelines, the Ministry of Labor has also provided a "Checklist for Safety and Health Management Precautions for Home Work" for enterprises to use.