With the growing trend of home working and hybrid work patterns, it’s more important than ever to ensure your workstation is DSE compliant and follows good ergonomic practices.

Working away from a traditional office can blur the lines around responsibility. From an employer’s perspective, it can be difficult to understand obligations to staff who aren’t always on site. For self-employed workers, setting up a safe and comfortable workstation can feel expensive or confusing.

But fear not, we’re here to guide you through home working setups, whether you’re supporting employees or setting up your own workspace.

Employer Obligations for Home and Hybrid Workers

DSE assessments are designed to protect workers from the health risks associated with prolonged screen use and desk-based work. These risks don’t only apply to desktop computers, they also include laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

The Health and Safety Executive (2025) makes this clear:

“If workers use display screen equipment daily, as part of their normal work, continuously for an hour or more, employers must do a workstation assessment.”

This legal responsibility applies regardless of where the work is carried out. Employers must ensure workers are protected whether they are based in the office, at home, or working between locations.

DSE Assessments should be provided:

• Home workers and remote employees
• Mobile workers who regularly use laptops or tablets
• Hot-desking employees who share workstations

Home working does not remove the need for DSE assessments, it simply changes where the risks are assessed.

Why DSE Assessments Matter for Home Working

Without proper setup, home workstations can increase the risk of:

• Back, neck, and shoulder pain
• Eye strain and headaches
• Fatigue and reduced concentration
• Long-term musculoskeletal issues

Homeworker DSE assessments helps identify these risks and ensures appropriate adjustments, equipment, or guidance are provided to support safe and comfortable working.

Self-Employed Workers and DSE Assessments

If you’re self-employed, you’re responsible for your own health and wellbeing. Whether you’ve always worked from home or have only started recently, a DSE assessment is a valuable way to improve comfort, productivity, and long-term health.

The good news is that creating a suitable home workstation doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a wide range of ergonomic products and adjustments available to suit most home offices and budgets—and often, small changes can make a big difference.

Need Help With Home Working DSE Assessments?

Whether you’re an employer supporting remote staff or a self-employed worker wanting to improve your setup, professional DSE assessments can help ensure compliance, comfort, and wellbeing.

To take the first steps towards a healthier workspace, get in touch to book a DSE assessment. Or you can give us a call on 01422 652257, email us at info@posturechairs.co.uk or fill out the form below for more details.