'Hazards or risks working from home are not limited to those that may cause physical harm,' says lawyer
Data from the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has revealed that 24,309 new claims for work-related injuries have been made this year, according to reports.
Since 2019, ACC has paid out claims for 200,000 people injured while working remotely, but with a notable drop in cases over the past years, Radio New Zealand reported.
The number of new claims has steadily declined from 35,896 in 2019 to 35,336 in 2021, and then to 30,711 in 2023.
James Whitaker, lead of the ACC injury prevention programme, said slips, trips, and falls are the biggest contributor to injuries in New Zealand.
"About 770,000 New Zealanders get injured from a slip, trip or fall in any given year, and home is the most common place for that to occur," he said as quoted by RNZ.
According to Whitaker, multitasking, such as walking while texting or checking a phone, increases the likelihood of these accidents.
Meanwhile, injuries caused by lifting and carrying have also been common this year, with 6,720 claims to date. Other common causes of injuries include loss of balance and puncture injuries.
The most common types of injuries involve soft tissue damage, followed by lacerations, punctures, and stings, as well as burns and fractures.
Just over 770 people have reported fractures or dislocations while working remotely, while nearly 300 people have sustained burns, according to the RNZ report, which cited ACC data.
The financial toll of work-from-home injuries is also significant. Since 2019, claims for injuries sustained while working remotely have totalled more than $800 million.
The findings underscore the importance of keeping employees safe in the wake of persistent demand for remote work.
Findings from InternetNZ released earlier this year revealed that 52% of New Zealanders who can do their work remotely said they would like to work from home more frequently.
Jim Roberts, a partner at Hesketh Henry law firm, noted that employers still have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of employees working from home.
"Employers should note that hazards or risks working from home may pose are not limited to those that may cause physical harm. Workers who work from home may face social isolation and psycho-social harm as a result. Employers should be aware of these when conducting a risk assessment," Roberts told RNZ.
