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Home based telework presents distinct challenges for preventing Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs). Although its rapid expansion has granted workers greater flexibility and satisfaction, it has also complicated the work of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professionals. A scoping review of literature was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect (2015–June2025) and shows that telework is associated with salient psychosocial risk factors – stress, excessive workload, time management difficulties, social isolation, limited supervisory and peer support, and the erosion of work-home boundaries – all of which merit close attention.

Regarding WRMSD symptomatology, neck, shoulder, and lower back pain are reported most frequently, and these complaints are consistently linked to unergonomic home workstations, furniture, and IT equipment’s design. Furthermore, workers’ socioeconomic status and the way telework was implemented are aspects that remain generally underexplored. A few studies have shown that women tend to report more musculoskeletal complaints than men, underscoring gender-related disparities influenced by patriarchal social structures. These disparities are particularly evident in issues related to work-home boundaries and the number of children present in the home.

There is a limited availability of resources to conduct risk assessments in remote work settings, which hampers employers' ability to ensure adequate working conditions for teleworkers. OHS professionals often lack familiarity with home-based work environments and have limited knowledge of the actual risk exposures present in these settings. So, numerous occupational health and safety (OHS) challenges have been identified in this context, particularly regarding the need for greater exploration of psychosocial risk factors associated with home-based telework.

Emerging OHS strategies must acknowledge and address these multifaceted challenges to promote sustainable and health-conscious teleworking practices. This includes adapting home-based working conditions and aligning both physical and mental job demands with the characteristics of individual workers. Developing an occupational health and safety systematic and integrated approach will allow understanding of all these factors, not only to prevent work-related injuries, but also to ensure teleworkers’ health promotion at home.