There have historically been very, very few Worker's Compensation claims filed by telecommuters. It just isn't an injury-prone workstyle. The question of injury claims for carrying laptops may have more to do with the method of carrying a heavy briefcase in general than about telecommuting per se.

You might want to consider the following options:

1. Check with your own or other organizations with large sales forces or other field organizations (e.g. consultants, auditors, etc.) who are carrying big briefcases or laptops and see what their experiences are. It's not necessary that they have telecommuting programs; what you're looking for are examples of mobile workers carrying laptops, sample cases, or other heavy items. Find out what their claims experience is and what they have done to reduce the risk of injury.

2. Find someone in your organization or outside who knows something about ergonomics and body mechanics and who can offer some training or guidelines about proper carrying methods. There's a right way and wrong way to carry a heavy load, and this is just as applicable for knowledge workers as factory workers.

3. Look into other carrying methods - e.g., wheeled carts or luggage carriers, of which there are now many on the market specifically for laptops, or do what I did: I got one of the backpack-style briefcases that holds my laptop and other papers. Not everyone wants to wear a backpack, but I can tell you that it is a lot more comfortable.

4. Remind anyone who complains about the cost of having the company buy these carrying carts or other aids that the cost of paying injury claims is a lot more.