Intriguing title? not sure what else to call it.

I’m looking for a way of describing a particular type of person and got myself caught in a circular iteration, can anyone help me out of this loop.

Some people you could trust to put a shelf up, while others although educated would be hopeless. Ie your local DIY outlet will sell anyone a power tool (drill, small reciprocating saw (jigsaw), or hand held circular saw). People buy these things and are perfectly ok using them, other people should not be allowed in the shop.

You can risk assess these items and even brief users, but some people however educated just are not practically minded while others are. How do you describe the ones that are, within an assessment? So you can list out issues about checking equipment before use, making sure workpiece is secure, hands nowhere near cutting blade, be aware that the blade protrudes below the workpiece so correct positioning, all guards in place and operational etc, but what about the person?

There is no particular training course for using a jigsaw, you don’t need a carpenter’s qualification. If in your assessment you describe the type of person as competent, you then have to describe what exactly you mean by this, so others can also judge the competency of the individual in mind. Every time I come up with a word or phrase I then ask myself so how do we prove that is the type of person used. These are peripheral tasks carried out infrequently, literally once in a blue moon and the people are practical types, who will be given some instruction and the tasks assessed.

For a young person you may assess their level of maturity etc to do whatever job, but what about this fictional adult with a drill, jigsaw or circular saw, what attribute do you assign to them.

Hope my question made sense in the end.

Chris

This reminds me of one of my colleagues who keeps using the phrase 'common sense'. A non-quantifiable get-out-clause which assumes everyone who has an accident must be a fool.

I think I see where you are coming from, but like 'common sense' it is difficult to quantify. If someone is not practical but otherwise well educated - and the two are not mutually exclusive (surgeons, pilots, etc.) then they would not be the best person to use the tool. Therefore, I cannot see any other term but Competent (or perhaps Authorised).

Competency is defined by HSE as: someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to assist you properly. The level of competence required will depend on the complexity of the situation and the particular help you need.

PUWER ACOP (specifically those parts covering Regs 8, 9) cover this in some detail: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l22.pdf

Interesting dilemma Chris

We ensure that a person using this type of tool has the "monkey see, monkey do" type of training and this is signed off by a competent person to say they are trained. This record card is then held by the Leading Hands so they know that Joe Bloggs can use that machine because he has had the training and has been deemed competent by his peer.

In the event of an accident, where Joe Bloggs cuts two of his fingers off, he could turn round and say he was never trained and your assumption that he is "competent" will count for nothing. However, a card signed both by him and his trainer and dated means that he understood he was trained and then his claim that he wasn't trained counts for nothing.

As well as being a legal tool, this sign off means that those who simply can't do (whom I tend to refer to as "numpties") will never be considered "competent" as they will never be signed off by their peers.
Ticks every box, including those nasty little legal loopholes.

You've answered your own question?

Competency means aptitude, attitude, skills, knowledge experience, etc.

There are VQ assessment routes for practical skills.

Thanks all for the replies, and perhaps I am over thinking this.

WatsonD yes that is the issue, it is a sort of variation on common sense (something I don't necessarily think exists, but that is another matter) and as you say hard to quantify. Sadly - Re-reading that ACOP / Guidance didn't help much with this other quality concept.

Skilled, yes in way I guess I do mean skilled, but not necessarily trained skilled, but skilled in the way of "street smarts" is. How many people who go to their DIY store have had actual training or instruction - sure they come with the machine, but who reads them (until it is broken).

hilary and Andybz, yes assessing they have this "quality" is appropriate, but I was hoping to specify this quality. From WatsonD's post "Competency is defined by HSE as: someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to assist you properly" it is this "other quality" I'm trying to define.

In Ron's post reminding us of the elements of competency it is the aptitude part, some people have an aptitude to using such equipment. While other will hit their own fingers every time they pick up a hammer.

It does seem a little overkill to suggest sending people on external courses for the use of a drill or jigsaw. The problem I have, is I grew up around these things and my father was always using them (and so was I ) so it seems natural to me. Just my perception that they are everyday tools like a kettle or toaster (I use my drills more than my toaster).

Invictus, yes but in this instance not that practical if when fitting something we need a hole or small scallop taken out of an edge of a board to make it fit, we can't wait around for someone else to turn up.

I just felt the word competent was not quite what I meant.

Chris

I think you are over thing it and H&S in general. Just put do not attempt to use until you have been assessed, lock the jigsaw, drills etc away and only certain people have the key.

Or don't buy the tools if you can't trust people to use them or use them yourself as you inform us you are 'competent'.

Maybe you held him back!

you could use the phrase 'has the aptitude' for/to...

"what makes you think you would be suitable for the job?"
"well I live just round the corner"