What it means
A competent person is a role that certain rules call for, such as for scaffolds, excavations and fall protection. The person can recognize existing and predictable hazards in the work and has the authority to take prompt action to remove them.
It isn't a job title or a certificate. The employer names the person, and the person needs the training, the knowledge and the authority to do the job. What counts as competent depends on the type of work and the current rule.
Competent person differs from qualified person. Competent is about spotting hazards and acting on them on site. Qualified is about knowledge, training and ability to solve problems in a subject, such as designing or analyzing a system.
Why it matters
Someone has to be able to say stop and be listened to. Rules name a competent person so that checks and calls on certain high-risk work don't fall between people. If the name on the paper isn't the person doing the inspections, the role isn't doing its job.
What it looks like on a site
- The employer names the competent person for each scope, such as scaffolds or trenches, and tells the crew who it is.
- The person has training that fits the work, and the record is kept.
- They inspect before the shift or when conditions change, and they can order the work stopped.
- Inspection results are recorded on a checklist or log.
- When they're off site, a named backup covers.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and your own procedures. Back to the glossary