Health, safety
& wellbeing

Our approach to safe working

House Medical aims to identify foreseeable risks and take proportionate steps to reduce them. Health and safety should be considered when planning work, choosing equipment and changing working arrangements.

Everyone involved has a part to play: follow relevant instructions, use equipment appropriately and raise concerns promptly. A concern should be addressed before avoidable harm occurs.

Workspaces and screen-based work

Much of software work involves sustained use of screens. Our priorities include suitable workstations, comfortable positioning, appropriate equipment and opportunities to vary activity.

• Consider the desk, chair, screen, keyboard and surrounding working space together.
• Identify discomfort, visual strain or other difficulties early.
• Take suitable breaks or changes of activity during sustained screen work.
• Keep workspaces free from avoidable electrical, fire and trip hazards.

Working from home does not remove the need to consider health and safety. Working arrangements should take account of the individual and the environment.

Mental health and wellbeing

We recognise that workload, uncertainty and isolation can affect wellbeing as well as the quality of work. Our aim is to maintain realistic expectations, open communication and opportunities to raise difficulties.

Regular contact is particularly important when people work remotely. We encourage people to discuss pressures early and to consider sustainable working patterns, recovery time and the support appropriate to their circumstances.

Visits, travel and shared environments

When working at a client or partner location, relevant site rules, induction arrangements and emergency procedures should be followed. People should know whom to contact if a problem occurs.

Travel and lone-working arrangements should consider the location, timing, task and means of keeping in contact. We prefer to work with organisations that also take the safety and wellbeing of people seriously.

Concerns, incidents and learning

We encourage people to report hazards, incidents, near misses and work-related discomfort. Reporting provides an opportunity to understand what happened and improve the arrangements.

For a concern connected with House Medical, contact the studio and describe the relevant task or environment. In an immediate emergency, use the appropriate emergency service or the site’s emergency arrangements rather than waiting for an email response.

Keeping the approach relevant

Risks can change when equipment, locations, roles or working patterns change. Our approach is to reconsider the arrangements when circumstances change and learn from concerns raised by the people doing the work.

This policy explains our general commitments. Specific activities may require additional instructions or assessments appropriate to the work.