The home workstation

If the employee works in front of a computer at home to such an extent that conditions are governed by the computer workstation ministerial order, cf. above, the following rules apply:

• There must be sufficient room to allow the employee to use ergonomically correct working postures and movements.
• The normal rules apply with regard to desks, desk chairs, monitors, programs, lighting etc (see below).
• The employee is entitled to have their vision and eyes examined and is entitled to screen glasses if an examination shows that screen glasses are needed.
• The employer must ensure that work involving sitting in front of a computer is organised in a way that provides regular breaks in which the employee can perform other tasks or take a break.
• The work environment regulations applicable to the psychological work environment also apply to remote working.

As a rule, the employer bears any costs related to the required furnishings and equipment for the home workstation and for transporting the equipment to the employee’s home. The employee may already posses the equipment and furnishings necessary for the performance of remote work in a safe and healthy manner. However, it may be necessary for the employer to supplement the employee’s equipment and furnishings.

If the employee does not work remotely to the extent that their working conditions are governed by the special rules regarding working in front of a computer, and the employee wishes to work from home, the employer may require as a condition for remote work that the employee already has the required furnishings and equipment at home or that the employee transports the required furnishings and equipment to and from the permanent workstation.

• The characters on the monitor must be legible and of a sufficient size.
• It must be possible to adjust contrast and light levels to suit light conditions in the room.
• The employee must be able to turn and tilt the monitor as needed. A separate base or an adjustable table can be used to adjust the height of the monitor to the employee’s needs.
• Annoying reflections and glare must be prevented, for example by placing the monitor at a right angle to light sources.

• Data entry and navigation devices, for example mouse devices and keyboards, must be designed in a way that allows the employee to use the most ergonomically correct working postures and movements.
• The keyboard must be separate from the monitor so as to allow the employee to use ergonomically correct work postures and movements which do not fatigue the arms and hands.
• There must be sufficient room in front of the keyboard and other data entry and navigation devices to allow the employee to rest their hands and forearms on the desktop.

• The desk must have a low-reflection surface.
• There must be sufficient room on top of and under the desk to allow the employee to use ergonomically correct work postures and movements. To allow the employee to use ergonomically correct work postures and movements, the chair and desk height must be appropriate to the employee using the desk and the work tasks that are performed.
• The desktop must be sufficient wide and deep to permit flexibility in the positioning of the monitor, keyboard, documents and other necessary items. The desktop must be deep enough to permit the monitor to be positioned at an ergonomically correct viewing distance, and to allow the employee to rest/support their hands and forearms in front of the monitor.

Height-adjustable desks are not required.

• The desk chair must be stable and must allow the employee freedom of movement and must support an ergonomically correct working posture.
• It must be possible to adjust the height of the seat. It must be possible to adjust the height of the backrest, and it must have a tilt function.

A good chair makes it possible to adjust the tilt and depth of the seat and to adjust the seat and backrest separately.

More information is available under Indoor climate and ergonomics.

In connection with work performed on a computer, the location of the monitor and artificial light sources must be coordinated so as to ensure adequate lighting while preventing irritating glare and reflections on the monitor.

In connection with the establishment of home workstations, it must be agreed locally in the local occupational health and safety committees how to establish a home workstation in the best possible way. At the same time, it must also be agreed how the home workstations should be included in the unit’s occupational health and safety initiatives in the future.

Subsequently, the agreement should be regularly taken up for review and evaluation.