Are Employers Required to Provide Ergonomic Home Equipment?

The Growing Work-from-Home Trend and Your Responsibilities

The growing work-from-home trend compels employers to answer a critical question: Are employers required to provide ergonomic home equipment? The short answer is, YES. According to an OSHA advisory letter released in 1999, OSHA expects employers to provide a safe work environment for all employees regardless of where they work.

According to OSHA laws and regulations, “safe” means protecting employees from hazards that could result in physical harm or illness. The letter states that employers must take precautions to reduce or eliminate risks.

• Training
• Personal protective equipment
• Other controls

What if You Don’t Provide Ergonomic Home Equipment?

OSHA regulations confirm that employers are required to provide ergonomic home equipment if it’s necessary to create a safe, healthy work environment for employees. Should the employer fail to provide such equipment, and an employee gets hurt or develops a chronic illness while performing their duties, the employer can be held liable.

5 Consequences of Not Providing Ergonomic Home Equipment

1. Lawsuits could cause higher insurance costs.
2. Employee absenteeism could increase.
3. Employee productivity could decrease.
4. The employer could incur a negative reputation within their industry.
5. The employer’s workers’ compensation rates could rise.

What Injuries or Illnesses Could Ergonomic Home Equipment Prevent?

Let’s take computer work as an example. Office-related pain, which can lead to chronic illness, could include any of the following maladies.

• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
• Headaches and migraines
• Neck strain
• Low back pain
• Upper back pain
• Leg pain or swelling
• Shoulder pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Sciatica
• And more

So, if your administrative assistant works at his/her kitchen table, sitting on a hard dining chair, the computer screen height might be too low or too high. This situation could cause neck strain and triceps pain. They might not position the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad at the proper alignment, which could cause neck strain, shoulder pain, or carpal tunnel syndrome. Sitting on a hard chair with no lumbar support could result in back, buttock, sciatica, or leg pain—discomfort potentially leading to chronic pain.

How To Provide the Right Ergonomic Home Equipment

One of the best ways to ensure you’re providing the ergonomic home equipment your employees need is to conduct home office inspections. Talk with your employees about the importance of setting up an ergonomic workspace and schedule a time to visit.

4 Critical Ergonomic Issues to Resolve During the Home Office Inspection

1. Chair
   • The chair should support spinal curves.
   • The chair’s height should allow the feet to rest flat on the floor (or on a footrest) with thighs parallel to the floor.
2. Telephone
   • If the employee talks on the phone while typing, you should provide a headset.
   • Alternatively, ensure the phone has a speaker setting.
3. Keyboard, mouse, and trackpad
   • Position the mouse and trackpad on the same surface as the keyboard.
   • Place the keyboard to allow upper arms to remain close to the body. Hands should rest even with or slightly below the elbows.
   • Adjust the mouse sensitivity to allow for a light touch.
4. Monitor
   • Place the monitor directly in front of the employee, about an arm’s reach away and behind the keyboard.
   • The top of the monitor screen should be at or slightly below eye level.

OSHA clearly states that employers are responsible for ensuring safe working environments for employees—regardless of the worksite location. This expectation means you need to assess at-home work environments and provide ergonomic home equipment as required to mitigate the risk of injury or illness.

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