Occupational safety & compliance in home office
Risk assessment, mandatory training, German workplace ordinance and GDPR – clearly explained for HR and management.
Overview
As soon as employees work from home regularly, the duties from occupational safety law, the workplace ordinance and the GDPR continue to apply – just decentralised. For HR this means processes need to be scalable, documented and legally sound.
In this cluster we bundle everything you need to make occupational safety in home office not only compliant, but a quality marker of your employer brand.
onyo supports you with an integrated compliance solution that handles risk assessment, training and documentation centrally.
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Compliance solution
Risk assessment, training and proof of compliance – fully digital.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the German Occupational Safety Act apply at home too?
Yes. As soon as telework or mobile work happens regularly, the Occupational Safety Act and Workplace Ordinance apply. The employer remains responsible for the safety and health of employees.
What must a risk assessment contain?
It identifies physical, psychological and ergonomic risks at the workplace, defines countermeasures and documents their implementation. In home office it usually relies on self-disclosure and digital tools.
How often must safety training take place?
At least once per year and whenever there are material changes, new tasks or after accidents. Digital training is permitted as long as understanding and participation can be evidenced.
What GDPR duties apply in home office?
Employers must ensure personal data stays protected outside the office: encrypted devices, secure connections, clear policies on screen locking and document storage.
People also ask
Short, reliable answers from our knowledge base.
Is a risk assessment mandatory for home office work?
Yes. Under section 3(1) of the German Occupational Safety Act the employer must take the necessary safety measures and verify their effectiveness. This includes the risk assessment under section 5 ArbSchG. These duties also apply to workstations in private homes.
Read answerWhat is the difference between home office, telework and mobile work?
Telework is a screen workstation permanently set up by the employer in the employee's home and falls under the German Workplace Ordinance. Mobile work is location-independent work without a fixed workstation; 'home office' is an everyday term for both.
Read answerDoes maternity protection apply when working from home?
Yes. German maternity protection law (MuSchG) also applies to telework and home office work. Once a pregnancy is reported, the employer must adapt the risk assessment and review the protective measures needed. For screen work, section 10(2) MuSchG requires the work to be designed so that regular short interruptions or other tasks are possible.
Read answerWhat fines apply for missing occupational safety in home offices?
Breaches of a regulation under the German Occupational Safety Act can be fined up to EUR 5,000 as an administrative offence under section 25(1) ArbSchG. Where committed intentionally and endangering another person's life or health, a fine of up to EUR 30,000 can be imposed under section 25(2).
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