Telecommuting, or telework, is increasingly popular. Employees love it for the comfort and flexibility, employers love it because of lower overhead expenses, and both love it because it keeps cars off the roads and helps protect the environment. But are there any dangers of working at home? Catalina Avalos believes there are, and she discussed them with us.

First, let's talk OSHA. Avalos is a director in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, law firm Tripp Scott. She notes that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration styles the offices of employees who work at home as "home-based worksites." If employees work in their own homes, you might expect that their health and safety is not an employer's concern, but OSHA thinks differently. Should employers inspect workers' home offices for safety?

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