Controlling risk for the telecommuting workforce with an emphasis on ergonomics

Abstract

Ten million people or nearly 4.5 % of the United States workforce characterized themselves as telecommuters at the end of 1998. Telecommuting generally involves extensive use of a personal computer workstation. Ergonomic risk factors identified as repetition, awkward postures, force, and the combination of these factors exist in the traditional office workplace. These risk factors are expected to be present in the telecommuters work situation as well. To maintain the health of employees and reduce potential corporate liability due to employee injuries, risk professionals must control ergonomic risk factors faced by the telecommuter. United States corporations have developed a number of different strategies to address ergonomic risks and they are presented in this study. Two specific strategies used are providing in-home workstation evaluations and furniture for the telecommuter. Several large US companies were informally surveyed to determine whether or not they provide these services to their telecommuting workforce. Similarly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been evaluating different methods to control employee injuries associated with ergonomic factors in the office workplace through regulation. These regulatory strategies are also described in this investigation. Document collection and literature review was used as the primary data collection method throughout the study. In addition to the reviews, a set of questions was prepared to provide a framework for informal interviews with several companies. This interview process was used to collect information on the strategies the selected companies employ to control general and ergonomic risks faced by their telecommuting workforces. Data covering general risks associated with telecommuting was presented in paragraph format. Information collected on corporate risk control strategies was provided in a table format. Finally, a time line was created to present OSHA information related to telecommuting.