Posted By Ken Lucas Gemma Like a recent thread on an accident definition, there are numerous. Some of which you might see now on this thread, but generally they are variations on the following: "A person who has received sufficient training, and possesses the relevant experience and/or knowledge and other required qualities to enable him/her to undertake his duties". Ken

Posted By Nick House Hi Gemma I've rooted around and found this for you. Hope it helps. Nowhere is there a prescriptive comprehensive definition of what is to be considered 'competent' - rather it is for the employer to decide and assess what is appropriate for their workplace. Possession of particular training experience or a qualification can indicate competence but cannot be the sole indicator, as for example years of on the job experience can qualify someone more effectively if they have detailed knowledge of the employer's operations. However, it is possible to identify, generally speaking, certain core capabilities and areas in which the health and safety CP should be expected to be knowledgeable: The work and activities of the employer How to identify hazards in the workplace An understanding of the concept of risk control and risk assessment Awareness of what constitute health and safety matters Ability to identify when action is required and be able to set up and implement good health and safety practices Ability to monitor such safety practices and be able to check their effectiveness and develop them as required Advocate and promote best practice standards in health and safety Lastly but very importantly have an awareness of the limitations of their knowledge and know where to go for competent advice and expertise whether within or outside the organisation. Regards Nick.

Posted By Ken Taylor 'At the end of the day', a 'competent person' is someone that a court of law would consider to be in possession of the necessary knowledge and ability to carry out a task or discharge a duty in question in a correct and proper manner. It should be appreciated that competence, as a concept, extends to any undertaking and is not peculiar to matters of health and safety.

Posted By John Murphy Gemma The Management Regulations (Reg 7) require a company to have health and safety assistance. The Approved Code of Practice (L21) describes what it defines as "competent" for the purposes of the (Management) Regulations. In partcular ACoP 48, 51 and 52. If you do not have access to this ACoP please e-mail and I will provide an extract of Regulation 7 and the guidance by return. John