The Essential Role of Competent Persons in Workplace Safety – 3/24/25

Safety E-Quick Tip

OWYN Safety Management Platform

The Essential Role of Competent Persons in Workplace Safety

Whether you are in construction, a service industry, or manufacturing, ensuring that there is at least one designated competent person at each worksite is crucial for creating a safe environment for your employees and safeguarding your company’s interests.

So, do you have these designated competent persons working for you? Let’s delve deeper.

According to OSHA, a competent person is someone who is capable of recognizing existing and foreseeable hazards in the workplace and has the authority to take immediate corrective action to address them.

Let’s break down OSHA’s definition and look at the specific responsibilities of a competent person:

1. Identifying Hazards: A competent person must be trained and experienced in recognizing the hazards associated with the work being performed. Furthermore, they should possess enough industry-specific experience to foresee potential risks.
2. Taking Prompt Corrective Action: A company must empower the competent person to swiftly address and eliminate workplace hazards without needing upper management approval.

Now, considering OSHA’s definition of a competent person, I ask you again:

Do you have a designated competent person working for you?

If not, isn’t it time to consider doing so?

Based on the above, it’s clear that appointing a competent person with the necessary safety training, expertise, and authority to address issues at every worksite is one of the most effective measures to protect employees from workplace hazards and ensure your company’s well-being.

While competent persons may not possess superpowers, their ability to prevent potential workplace accidents places them remarkably close.

Employee QuickTip

Even if you are not the competent person, if you recognize a potential workplace hazard, do your part and eliminate the hazard or report it to management.

Employer/Management QuickTip

Remember, a competent person can only do their job if you give them authority to make necessary corrections to eliminate hazards in the workplace.

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Stay Safe – You’ve Got This!

Your OWYN Safety Solution Team