Home offices will not be inspected for violations of federal safety and health rules, OSHA has confirmed in a new compliance directive. Employers are not expected to conduct home inspections, either. "OSHA respects the privacy of people's homes, and we expect that employers will too," said OSHA chief Charles Jeffress. The directive states that employers are not liable for an employee's home office.

OSHA will follow-up on requests to investigate complaints involving potentially hazardous factory work being performed in the home. Examples include assembling electronics, using unguarded crimping machines, or handling potentially hazardous materials without adequate protection.