What is the health and safety competent person?
A health and safety competent person has the expertise, skills, knowledge and the necessary experience to manage all aspects of health and safety in an organization. A competent health and safety person ensures that an organization complies with the relevant health and safety laws and regulations.
Why do organizations need a competent person for health and safety?
A competent person for health and safety is highly important to be engaged by every organization because a competent HSE person ensures that health and safety measures are implemented and maintained in that organization. Through their actions, they assist in reducing the risks of Accidents and injuries. Engaging a competent person is part of the legal requirements that offer the employment of competent HSE personnel to take care of health and safety matters in any establishment.
What qualifications do a competent HSE person need to have?
A competent HSE person should have a relevant health and safety qualification. In the UK, the person should have the NEBOSH Qualifications such as NEBOSH IGC, NEBOSH Diploma, etc. The competent person can sit for any of the IOSH courses, too, if they want. In the United States, the person can sit for any BCSP Courses such as CSP, etc. Aside from the various qualifications in these courses, the competent person should have relevant practical work experience on the Job.
How can a competent person improve workplace safety?
By virtue of his training and experience, a competent health and safety person has the required skills to improve the safety of any organization that they find themselves in. The training and experiences will guide the competent person in conducting risk assessments, developing and implementing safety policies, and providing health and safety training to workers.Supervising the workers in the course of their job. Monitoring the level of compliance among the workers and ensuring everyone maintains a safe and healthy environment.
Is it possible to have more than one competent health and safety person in an organization?
Having more than one health and safety competent person in an organization is possible. The factors that could necessitate that include the size and complexity of the organization. In an organization, various activities could occur, and it could be beneficial if competent HSE persons are employed to handle different aspects of these activities.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a health and safety competent person?
- Conducting the risk assessments in the workplace.
- Ensuring the safety induction is done at the workplace.
- Carrying out accident and incident investigation.
- Training supervision and monitoring of work activities.
- Conducting toolbox talks and safety meetings.Â
- Keeping up to date with changes In health and safety legislation.
- Implementing health and safety policies and procedures at the workplace.
How can a competent person keep their knowledge and skills up to date?
A competent person can keep their knowledge and skills up the date by making sure that they engage in training and certification. And by attending seminars, talk shows, road walks, and all activities about health and safety.Â
What should an organization look for when engaging a competent health and safety person?
When an organization is selecting a competent person, they should look out for persons that have those requisite credentials and attributes such as
- Being proactive.
- Relevant health and safety qualifications.
- Relevant experience in the HSE field.
- Strong communication skills.
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Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional with more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which spans many industries such as construction, beverage, oil and gas, etc. He has many health and safety certifications, including NEBOSH IGC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 Lead auditor certificate. A member of IOSH, ISPON, and Nigeria Red Cross Society. He is interested in business, entrepreneurship, Speaking, and motivating people to do better for themselves. He enjoys leisure with a good motivational book.
