What it means
Training shows someone was taught. Competency verification shows they can do it. A qualified evaluator watches the worker do the task, such as running a lift, tying off or setting a lockout, and records whether they did it right.
The evaluator needs to know the task. That is usually a lead, a trainer or a certified person, depending on the task and the rule. The check should match the real work, on the real equipment, in conditions close to the job.
Verification is repeated when it should be. Practice fades, equipment changes and bad habits creep in. Your procedure and the current rules set when a worker must be re-evaluated.
Why it matters
A quiz can't tell you whether someone will tie off correctly at the edge. A hands-on check can. When something goes wrong, a signed evaluation shows who verified what, and when.
What it looks like on a site
- The evaluator uses a short checklist of the steps the worker must do right.
- The worker does the task on the real equipment while the evaluator watches.
- A miss means more coaching and another try, not a pass.
- The result is signed and dated by the evaluator and kept with the worker's record.
- Re-evaluation dates are on the calendar, not left to memory.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and your own procedures. Back to the glossary