A new technical report on healthy and safe teleworking by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), urge employers and governments to adopt measures to protect the health of workers who carry out home office.
The report of the two organizations exposes the benefits and risks of teleworking for health, as well as the changes necessary to adapt to the new modalities of remote work.
As benefits of remote work they indicate:
– Better balance between work and personal life
– Flexible hours
– Possibility of physical activity
– Reduction in vehicle traffic
– Savings in travel time
– Reduction in air pollution
The above can improve physical and mental health and leads to increased productivity and reduced costs for many companies.
But the report also warns that, without adequate planning, organization and assistance in health and safety, teleworking can have significant repercussions on the physical and psychological health and social well-being of workers, as it can lead to:
– Isolation
– Exhaustion
– Depression
– Domestic violence
– Musculoskeletal and other injuries
– Increased consumption of tobacco and alcohol
– Excessive time sitting in front of a screen
– Harmful weight gain
“Teleworking can easily bring health benefits, but it can also have a dire effect,” said WHO official Dr. Maria Neira. “Which way the balance tips depends entirely on governments, employers and workers working together, and on agile and imaginative occupational health services, to put in place policies and practices that benefit both workers and workers. like at work”.
According to the study, among the measures that employers and governments must implement, are:
– Workers have adequate equipment to complete work tasks
– Provide relevant information, guidelines and training to reduce the psychosocial and emotional health effect of teleworking
– Train managers in effective risk management, remote management and the promotion of health in the workplace
– Establish the “right to disconnection” and sufficient rest days
According to the report, occupational health services They must be trained to provide ergonomic, mental and psychosocial health care to those who work remotely, through digital telehealth technologies.
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