Safety should always be a high priority in the workplace. Whether that be in construction, maritime, railroad, or even in an office setting, every workplace has hazards that need dealing with.
In America alone, the workplace accounts for one death every 90 minutes. This doesn’t include the amount of severe or even crippling injuries that occur on a daily basis. Fortunately, in the last 50 years, we’ve seen a significant decrease in worker deaths as safety has become a higher priority. Most injuries are preventable and can be further prevented as we give proper time and attention to safety training as well as designating competent persons within the workplace.
A “competent person” is someone who’s in charge of identifying and fixing safety issues within their place of work. They have a responsibility to eliminate or mitigate hazards as they arise. The purpose of this article is to identify what a competent person is, why they’re important, and the steps to take in order to become one.
OSHA’s Definition of a Competent Person
The U.S Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) defines a competent person as someone who possesses the following traits:
- Knowledgeable of the company’s proceduresA competent person is generally experienced within the company and is aware of the safety procedures. However, this could also mean that the individual is a safety trainer or employer and is well aware of proper safety procedures. Either way, a sound knowledge in your field of work and the operations of your company are crucial in being a competent person.
- Capable of identifying hazards
Worksites with more hazards, such as construction sites, have a greater need for competent persons to identify a wider range of hazards. Places with fewer hazards, such as a call center, still have a need for competent persons, but in fewer areas, such as CPR or ladder safety. It can be difficult for a new employee just starting out to know what is dangerous and what is a normal part of the job. A competent person should have knowledge of what is and isn’t hazardous, as well as a knowledge of the company’s standards. This might include a firm understanding of the company’s machinery, accident histories, or hazardous areas. It also includes a knowledge of fire escape routes, active shooter procedures, or even ergonomic hazards such as digital eye strain.
- Has the authority to correct hazards.
In this case, “authority” doesn’t necessarily mean a position of power. The authority to correct hazards refers more to the knowledge and ability of how to do so. For example, if a person who is experienced with ladders notices that the ground beneath is too loose to provide stability, they would have the authority to make changes in order to ensure a safe job. Oftentimes, supervisors will delegate an experienced or knowledgeable employee to act as competent person and oversee the safety of certain tasks. Other times, supervisors or other leaders will act as the competent person on a worksite and oversee the safety of their employees during a job.
What Makes a Competent Person?
There is no official training or certification required to prove someone is a competent person. Typically, employers designate an employee to be the competent person. The designation is an unofficial title used to identify someone who is experienced in their field of work and capable of overseeing the safety of day-to-day operations.
However, competent persons are important to the safety of any workplace. Their experience and knowledge in specific areas allow them to prevent hazards and ultimately save lives. For example, imagine that an employee begins exhibiting symptoms of heatstroke after a long day in the sun. A competent person would be able to identify these symptoms as heatstroke and know what to do to mitigate the problem. Competent persons can oversee workplace operations and make sure everything is running smoothly, safety procedures are being followed, and the workplace is free of any hazards that could pose a threat.
Gaining the expertise to be considered a competent person takes time and effort. The following are some action items that are important to do.
Gain Experience
If you’ve ever started a new job, you know how awkward it can feel at first. Most likely, you are unfamiliar with the equipment, confused about what tasks need to be done, and unconfident in your ability to complete the task. The only way to truly become familiar is through experience.
While good experiences can help us learn and stay safe, bad experiences can be damaging. Bad experiences can come from performing tasks that you’re not familiar with or are incapable of performing. It can also come from doing a task incorrectly or by ignoring safety procedures. Mistakes are inevitable on the job, and they can help you improve if you choose to learn from them. However, acting carelessly or neglecting things you’ve been taught can only end badly.
On the other hand, good experience comes from good practices. New employees should do all they can to quickly learn the company’s safety procedures. They should ask questions to those who have more experience in the field and seek to learn from their peers. Good employees never stop learning from those around them, and continuously look for opportunities to improve. This is a good way to gain expertise and become competent in your field of work.
Study
Most jobs require employee training as part of the onboarding process. Depending on the training, this might be enough to qualify someone as a competent person on its own. For example, if you were starting a new job at a construction site and received a training course on how to operate an excavator, you might then be considered a competent person regarding excavators.
Unfortunately, however, people are prone to forgetting what they learn during training. In fact, it’s shown that up to 50% of what is learned during a meeting can be forgotten soon after. For this reason, training shouldn’t stop after the course. Employees should continue to study their field after training to reinforce the information they gathered. This could include personal research, asking questions while on the job, or taking refresher courses as needed.
Responsibilities of a competent person
Once you have sufficient knowledge and experience to be considered a competent person, how can you apply your knowledge? Competent persons have an automatic responsibility when it comes to mitigating hazards. As a competent person, you need to show a certain level of leadership skills as you deal with hazardous situations. New employees will look to you for answers to problems and ask for your input on procedures. From there, you’re able to make sure everyone knows and is practicing company safety procedures.
Some OSHA inspectors may ask who the competent person is when they visit. This isn’t a rule that’s enforced and is simply a way of knowing whether or not there’s someone capable of preventing hazards on the premises. Although it’s not required, it may be good for employers to appoint a competent person to oversee certain tasks such as excavating or navigating small spaces. Doing so could help the job be done in an orderly manner.
A Qualified Person
Talking about the difference between a competent and a qualified person can be confusing. A competent person has expertise in a certain field. They’re able to identify hazards and solve problems as they come up. They have a general knowledge of how to perform a task safely.
On the other hand, a qualified person has extensive knowledge on a topic. More often than not, qualified persons have formal education and even a degree in certain fields. Most sites don’t have a qualified person as they would a competent person. Qualified persons are often called in to deal with issues such as training or mitigating greater hazards outside the jurisdiction of a competent person.
As an example, think about a forklift inspection. In this instance, a competent person would be capable of conducting the inspection and identifying any hazards. On the other hand, a qualified person may be certified to create a forklift inspection checklist.
A competent person isn’t normally identified by degrees, titles, or promotions. Qualified persons on the other hand generally have some sort of degree stating their authenticity. They put forth the time, education, and money to become proficient in certain areas.