Homeland security

摘要

IN LAST month's HSW, we looked at the more traditional health and safety aspects of homeworking, particularly equipment and electrical issues. In this concluding feature, we consider the issues that have increased in importance--although not always in risk--over the past decade. One concern that is more pressing than 10 years ago is fraud and theft. Homeworkers often overlook security arrangements, lulled into a false sense of security by having lived in their homes without problems for years. Homeworkers should be discouraged from advertising that their homes contain valuable work equipment, particularly by leaving computer boxes outside for refuse collection; managers should also provide paper shredders if staff are handling confidential or sensitive documents at home. They also need to ensure that the security arrangements are satisfactory; does the homeworker need a burglar alarm, for example? Check that front doors have deadlocks and that window are secure. Some employers rule out employees setting up home workspace which can be easily overlooked by passers by outside.