Telework and occupational health: a Quebec empirical study and regulatory implications

This article addresses occupational health issues associated with home based telework. Relying on a literature review, an overview of empirical research and the results of six case studies conducted within Canadian-based organisations, the authors present findings from an interdisciplinary perspective that takes into account the social, ergonomic and regulatory issues relevant to health and safety of teleworkers. The case studies as well as the literature review showed that home based telework is generally seen by workers as having a positive effect on their health, although potential problems arising from work station design, long hours and isolation were identified. The analysis of the legal framework governing OHS of teleworkers in Quebec showed that most legislation theoretically applied to teleworkers, but there was some concern as to whether protective provisions governing prevention and compensation for injury were effectively applied to home based telework. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.