Competent person
A person with sufficient training, experience, knowledge and other qualities to undertake a specific task safely or to advise on safety matters. The required qualities differ by instrument and jurisdiction.
The same term carries different legal meaning across frameworks. Read each jurisdiction entry carefully.
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“competent person”Close equivalentNot defined once in HSWA 1974. Individual regulations define competent person for their own purposes. MHSWR 1999 regulation 7 requires employers to appoint one or more competent persons to assist in undertaking preventive and protective measures; competence is described as sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities.
Irish HSA
“competent person”Close equivalentThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to have access to competent advice (section 18). The Act does not provide a single universal definition.
US OSHA
“competent person”Close equivalent“OSHA defines competent person within specific standards. 29 CFR 1926.32(f) (construction) defines competent person as one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorisation to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.”
Note: Each instrument may define differently or leave undefined. Split if one country uses several meanings.
Practitioner note: Defined differently in different regulations — each defines only the competence required for that specific task. The GB definition in MHSWR reg 7 is the general standard. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.32(f) defines competent person for construction specifically.