Competency assessment
A structured process to verify that an individual has the knowledge, skills, experience and other qualities needed to carry out a specified task safely without undue risk to themselves or others. Employers must ensure that work is only carried out by competent persons.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“competency assessment”Close equivalentMHSWR 1999 regulation 7 requires employers to appoint a competent person to assist in health and safety matters; regulation 13 requires training to ensure competence. Specific regulations such as PUWER 1998 (regulation 9) require that only people who have received adequate training use work equipment. HSE defines a competent person as someone with sufficient training, experience, knowledge and other qualities.
Irish HSA
“competency assessment”Close equivalentThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (sections 10 and 18) requires employers to provide training and to have access to a competent person. Specific regulations require competency assessment for particular tasks. The HSA defines competence as the ability to perform tasks to the standard expected.
US OSHA
“competency assessment”Close equivalentOSHA requires demonstration of competence in specific contexts. A competent person is defined in 29 CFR 1926.32(f) for construction as one capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards. Qualification or certification is required for specific roles under various standards.
Practitioner note: Competence is task-specific and perishable. A certificate records training, not current ability, so reassess after process changes, long absences or incidents.