Teleworking: tips and recommendations
The article 5 of the Royal Decree Law 8/2020 of the March 17 on urgent measures against the Covid-19 pandemic, established teleworking as a priority whenever possible:
“ With the aim of facilitating the exercise of the remote work modality in those sectors, companies or jobs in which it was not foreseen until now, the obligation to carry out the risk assessment will be deemed fulfilled, in the terms provided in article 16 of the Law 31/1995 , of November 8 of Occupational Risk Prevention, on an exceptional basis, through a self-assessment carried out voluntarily by the worker himself ”
Since that moment, remote work has become a reality with more implementation in organizations, which Like any type of work, it must be carried out in safe and healthy conditions.
In July 2021, a further step has been taken in our country with the Law 10/21 on remote work which aims to provide regulation for this form of work provision, and a framework of rights that includes the principles of its voluntary and reversible nature, compensation of expenses, maximum work times and minimum rest times, equal opportunities in the territory, flexible distribution of working time, as well as preventive aspects such as an adequate risk assessment and other aspects basically related to physical and mental fatigue, the use of data display screens and the risks of isolation.
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To achieve a safe and comfortable workplace , you must follow ergonomic recommendations regarding the dimensions of the table, characteristics of the chair, keyboard, mouse, screen perpendicular to the windows to avoid reflections, noise, temperature, light level, humidity, etc.
Among the notable measures that concern the best choice of workplace:
- Find an exclusive place in the house that allows you to concentrate on work free of interruptions and distractions.
- It would be ideal for you to choose a well-ventilated place to work with natural light.
In relation to Covid-19:
- If you go out, when you return home change your clothes, leave your shoes at the door and wash your hands well.
- The equipment you use for work must be disinfected with a hydroalcoholic solution.
Download HERE the complete information
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
At home you can have different electronic devices to carry out teleworking, such as tablets, laptops or mobile phones. Each of them has different characteristics, what they have in common is that they have associated risks of visual fatigue and ergonomics.
Visual fatigue:
- In our documentation section related to brochures and infographics, you will find recommendations to avoid visual fatigue HERE. Above all, take breaks to relax your eyes, look at a distant point from time to time, hydrate and blink, this will help you stay in good condition.
Ergonomic risks:
- Laptop : do not use it on your knees or in bed, look for a table where you can place it as a desktop computer. If you have a docking station, use it, adding an independent screen, keyboard and mouse you will get a standard workstation.
- Tablet : place it on a table or lectern, this way you will avoid tension in your hands, wrists and neck.
- Mobile phone : keep your back straight, resting on a surface, use hands-free systems so as not to hold the mobile phone with your face and shoulder. If you need to type texts, place it about 30 cm away. from the chest, at eye level, shoulders relaxed, neck and wrists straight.
Download HERE the complete information.
TIME ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING
We consider a risk to the effectiveness of teleworking not to have good time organization. Without good planning you will get lost in various interruptions, or in poor coordination with your teams, making it necessary to work by project defining deadlines and responsible parties. Remote meetings allow you to stay united with our group, so we strengthen ties in this imposed physical separation.
Recommendations:
- Although it may be tempting...don't work in your pajamas. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to separate the daily sleep and wake-work phases.
- Organize your time, plan breaks and keep an updated task list. Establish a sleep and meal schedule. Keep it up!
- Report your progress and objectives to your team or boss, so that the team can plan their work effectively.
- Set limits for yourself, we know that we can continue working 24 hours a day since we have many pending issues, but we also know that outside of a rational schedule mistakes are made and finally you will have to redo what you have done during times when you are tired. Plan your schedule and put an end to it.
- Disconnect and do other activities that do not cause visual fatigue such as exercising, playing with your children, taking out the king's gifts, rearranging the closet...just as our mothers say: at home there are always tasks to do.
Download HERE the complete information.
Physical exercise, nutrition and emotional well-being will help you reduce the risks associated with teleworking
Sheets, technical notes and guides on teleworking
- Guide to good teleworking practices Fraternidad-Muprespa.
- The dangers of technostress
- Connect with healthy use of the smartphone and laptop
- The risks of misuse of new technologies
- Smartphone and health
- Technical guide for the evaluation and prevention of risks related to the use of equipment with display screens
- European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Teleworking Space
- NTP 1165: Teleworking, criteria for its integration into the SST management system
- NTP 1150: Ergonomic risks in the use of new technologies with data display screens
- NTP 1123: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) (II): psychosocial risk factors associated with new forms of work organization
- IRSST. Checklist: my home, my office
- CEOE practical guide: Smart Working and Occupational Risk Prevention: legal and management challenges in the company
- Teleworking Didactic Guide of the Junta de Andalucía
- Good practices in teleworking at home OSALAN.
- Teleworking. Considerations for compliance with the INVASSAT prevention law
- Teleworking in the prevention of occupational risks AEEMT
- INSST. Tips to maintain emotional well-being when working at home due to Covid-19.
- INSST.Ergonomic guidelines for remote work with the computer due to Covid-19 Recommendations for the employer
- INSST: Psychosocial risks and remote work due to Covid19 for the employer
- INSST. Psychosocial management tips for remote work due to Covid-19
- INSST. Guidelines for the management of ergonomic and psychosocial aspects in a teleworking situation
Postural hygiene during teleworking
Our thanks to the Pérez & Salcedo Physiotherapy Clinic, which offers us through the following video a series of guidelines and advice where you can discover how to maintain correct postural hygiene when you are teleworking. It includes simple exercises that you can easily follow and that will help you stretch when you take a break during your work day.
Leading in times of crisis
We know that leading a team effectively in a context of normality is complicated, in a pandemic situation, the difficulties have been greater. We share the following video developed by the company INFOVA, to whom we would like to thank for these training initiatives that they make available to us free of charge.
Teleworking and family life
Teleworking, especially at home, is a measure that involves making our family and professional life compatible. In the following video also belonging to the company INFOVA, we offer you tips to try to reconcile these two aspects.


