LONEALERT Newsletter May 2020

Working together, from afar
Dozens join in community lone working webinar
Lone Worker
Safety Live hosts
its first webinar
Lone Worker Safety Live hosted
the first in its planned series of
community webinars to help
companies protect the health
and wellbeing of their lone and
remote workers. The webinar
was hosted by LWSL Director,
Nicole Vazquez, who also runs
Worthwhile Training.
Around 100 people joined
in the webinar on April 16th,
which focused on the ergonomics
of lone working, and
how company bosses can
ensure their staff have suitable
working environments at
home following the COVID-19
pandemic.
Dozens more have since
viewed the event on YouTube.
The webinar, called ‘Home
Working, Managing the New
‘Norm’. Ergonomics - A Holistic
Guide from the Experts’,
featured three guest speakers
(opposite) - Nigel Heaton, Ed
Milnes and Kirsty Angerer -
providing advice and guidance
about creating suitable
home working environments
for workers, including lighting
and air quality, whilst ensuring
It’s thinking
about the
bigger picture.
What hours
are people
working, and
with what
equipment?
appropriate risk assessments
are carried out under
the unprecedented circumstances.
Nicole said: “There was
a real mixture of people,
including those working in
security, housing, charities
and retail. Some are new to
home working themselves or
have teams that are working
from home for the first time.”
“Among the topics discussed
was the importance
of carrying out work station
risk assessments for people
sitting at home doing an
office job.
“It is all about thinking of
the bigger picture, such as
hours people are working
and the fact that they are sat
at desks longer, potentially
without the right equipment.
“Whilst some people may
have an office at home, others
will be working on their
laptops sat on their beds.”
The webinar also explored
the idea that physical
boundaries in the home can
help workers make mental
boundaries. Participants
were given suggestions of
how to physically zone off
areas of their homes to ensure
they can separate home
and work life.
Nicole said that some of the
biggest issues raised by participants
was how to suitably
risk assess people working
from home, and how to have
meaningful conversations
with staff about their home
working environments, to
ensure their safety and wellbeing,
without appearing like
they were nagging.
The webinar took place after
recent statistics were released
from the Institute For
Employment Studies, following
a survey into home worker
wellbeing commissioned
specifically amidst COVID-19.
Figures show that 58% of
workers reported aches and
pains in their neck, whilst
56% had aches in their
shoulder and 55% in their
back. A further 55% reported
headaches or migraines, and
60% said they were suffering
fatigue.
The webinar was the first in a
number of planned webinars.
Upcoming webinars include:
• 14th May: Building
resilient and effective remote
teams
• 2nd June: HSE lone
worker guidance
GET IN TOUCH
SIGN UP TO THE NEXT WEBINAR HERE
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Phone:
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