Competent Person
A competent person is an individual who, through training, education and experience, is qualified to identify existing and predictable hazards and has the authority to take prompt corrective action.
What Is a Competent Person?
A competent person is a legal designation found in most OHS legislation. It refers to someone who has the knowledge, training and experience to recognize hazards associated with a specific type of work and the authority to take immediate action to correct them. The definition varies slightly by jurisdiction but always includes both knowledge and authority.
Where Competent Persons Are Required
- Scaffold erection, use and dismantling
- Excavation and trenching operations
- Confined space entry supervision
- Fall protection system inspection
- Crane and rigging operations
- Electrical work and LOTO verification
Competent Person vs. Qualified Person
A qualified person typically holds formal credentials (engineering degree, professional designation). A competent person may have gained their knowledge through on-the-job experience and specific training. Some tasks require both - for example, a professional engineer designs a fall protection plan, while a competent person inspects equipment daily.
Track Competency with Make Safety Easy
Make Safety Easy tracks worker certifications, training records and competency designations so you always know who is qualified for which tasks and when recertification is due.