Are Employers responsible for Federal Health and Safety Violations that Occur in their employees home offices?
OSHA recently withdrew a policy interpretation letter that was posted on the internet in November. The letter stated that employers were responsible for federal health and safety violations that occur in their employees’ home offices. The letter was brought to the attention of the business community in a January 4, 2000, article in The Washington Post. OSHA’s original letter would have affected the 1.9 million workers who telecommute or occasionally work at home. The statement by OSHA was being interpreted to mean that employers were responsible for ensuring their employees have ergonomic furniture, proper lighting and adequate heating, cooling and ventilation systems in their home offices. Not surprisingly, it generated an outcry from the business community. OSHA withdrew the letter due to the widespread confusion caused by it. Need more information regarding Ergonomics? See EZ Facts #220, Ergonomics–An Overview.
