Posted By Robert K Lewis
There are two parts to your posting. The first seems to be an assumption that undertaking IOSH CPD actually then defines you as competent. This is not the case per se but CPD is rather part of the evidence base that you are competent. Remember that Competence is about a range of factors such as Skills Knowledge Training Ability Behaviour Attitude and Experience. All of these we would need to be able to demonstrate competence in our work on an ongoing basis.

Your Italian colleague is thus outlining a system that meets only a proportion of these areas. Thus the Italian approach would not meet the HSE understandings of competence as they are currently expressed. What concerns me is that it does portray a fundamental misunderstanding that training and competence are the same thing.

The second real issue is Competence and competence management systems. They are certainly one of the key areas that needs to be addressed adequately in any complete safety management system. All too often it is replaced by a training and training records procedure, but it is far more than that.

The Midland Branch conference in May is approaching the issue from the standpoint of Industry guidance, Individual and finally Corporate competence and competence management. There are also courses being made available in the IOSH training brochure this year. In my view competence is a key issue for the Institution that has so far not been addressed, although there seems to be a developing understanding that H&S Practitioner involvement in CDM is a reality. For me the consequences are far wider as I feel that the HSE will be looking more deeply into issues of competence rather than mere training when investigating failures.

Bob