Differences and similarities in occupational safety management between digital and non-digital work outside the workplace

When the occupational safety and health personnel were asked what kind of occupational safety and health issues had recently come up to be resolved, the answers varied between digital and non-digital work. In digital work, ergonomics became a key occupational safety and health challenge. Working time, breaks as well as insurance issues were also causes of concern. In non-digital work, the most important occupational safety and health issues were traffic and mobility, the safety of the workspace at the client's premises and working alone.

(Text continues after graph)

Close communications, good orientation and flow of information support employees

Communication between supervisors and team members, good orientation and provision of information, as well as up-to-date instructions and reviewing them, were highlighted most frequently in the open answers as the best practices for supporting the safety, health and well-being of employees in work outside the workplace. In addition, the open answers mentioned face-to-face meetings and site visits, taking care of work equipment, self-care, responding to contacts, risk assessment, high-quality supervisory work and information produced by various systems.

(Text continues after graph)

There may not be any differences in the effectiveness of safety practices, even though the work environments and the nature of digital and non-digital work outside the workplace are different

It was difficult to identify the hazards of a home office or other work facilities outside the workplace, and effective practices had not yet been established. In non-digital work, the risks are more clearly identified, although the work environments are diverse and varied.

(Text continues after graph)

Various means of monitoring the safety, health and well-being of employees

The key means of monitoring the safety, health and well-being of employees in work outside the workplace were discussions and communications, participation in unit meetings and interaction with supervisors. In addition, safety observations and safety rounds, incident reports and various surveys and statistics were often mentioned as means of monitoring. However, many respondents also stated that the safety and well-being of people working outside the workplace is not monitored in any way.

(Text continues after graph)

Occupational safety officers and occupational safety representatives have different ways of keeping in touch with people working outside the workplace

In non-digital work, occupational safety and health personnel kept in touch with people working outside the workplace especially by phone or with face-to-face discussions at the workplace. With regard to digital remote/hybrid work, a wider range of digital tools, such as Teams, Zoom and Yammer applications and email were highlighted.

(Text continues after graph)