Health & Safety Services

Competent Person

In workplace health and safety, a competent person is someone who has the training, expertise and qualifications to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement control measures, to either eliminate or reduce risks to an acceptable level and ensure the safety of workers and others.

The term competent person implies a level of expertise and proficiency that is necessary for the successful and safe completion of a task or activity.

What is a Competent Person?

The level of competency required, may vary depending on the specific regulations or standards in a particular industry, or the activities being undertaken by the business.

The United Kingdom has legal requirements for businesses to have a designated competent person responsible for health & safety. Failing to comply with these regulations can result in fines, legal action, and damage to your reputation.

Is a competent person and a responsible person the same thing?

While a competent person and a responsible person share some similarities, they are not necessarily the same thing.

A competent person may have the knowledgeable, skills and expertise, but may not necessarily be responsible, as they may not be required to take responsibility for certain tasks.

A responsible person may be accountable and dependable for certain tasks and actions, but may not be competent and have the necessary knowledge, skills or training to the perform tasks.

So, for example, certain Fire Safety regulations require you to have both a competent person and a responsible person in place. Read more here.

In-House or Outsource Competent Person

The advantage of having an external competent person allows for that skill set, knowledge and training qualifications to be available immediately and always kept up-to-date.

At Ablemarsh, our competent person service helps you to fulfil your legal duty to comply with workplace health and safety regulations, such as those set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), by acting as a competent person on your behalf.

We have qualified and experienced consultants who identify hazards and risks in your workplace and provide expert advice to manage and eliminate them.

Why do I need to use a health and safety competent person?

A competent person can help you comply with a wide range of health & safety regulations, depending on the industry and nature of your business. They can help you reduce the risk to your business and keep your staff safe. Giving you peace of mind and allowing you to fully focus on running your business. In certain industries, clients using your services may require you to have a competent person in place. By using our services, you are able to comply with that requirement

We can assist you with:

Employee health and safety: The health & safety of your employees should be your top priority. By having a competent person responsible for health & safety, you can show your commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of your employees.
Risk Management and safety: A competent health and safety advisor can help identify and assess any potential hazard and risk in the workplace, including fire risk assessments and general risk assessment.
Health and safety policy procedures: A competent person is responsible for creating policies and procedures for workplace health and safety that comply with applicable laws and regulations. This includes developing procedures for medium/high risk activities, handling hazardous materials, responding to emergencies, and managing workplace incidents.

Accident investigation in health and safety: If an incident or accident occurs in the workplace, the competent person investigates to determine the cause and to identify steps that can be taken to prevent it from happening again. They can implement measures such as training, safety procedures, and equipment maintenance.
Environmental health & safety policy: A competent person can help you comply with regulations related to environmental health and safety by providing your organisation with a bespoke Environmental health & safety policy.
Construction health and safety: If you are involved in the construction industry, a competent person can help you comply with regulations, such as those set by the Construction Design and Management (CDM) and assist to ensure the tasks and activities are carried out safely.
Food safety: If your business involves handling or preparing food, a competent person can help you comply with regulations related to food safety, such as those set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

These are just a few examples that an Ablemarsh health and safety competent person can help you comply with.

What tasks does a workplace health and safety competent person carry out?

A competent person is responsible in assisting with a safe and healthy workplace, ensuring that everyone in the workplace is aware of their responsibilities with regards to health & safety.

The workplace should be safe for employees, customers, and visitors.

Our Competent Person tasks may vary depending on the workplace, but typically include:

Health and safety training

Our competent person ensures that all employees are trained on health and safety policy procedures, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency response protocols.

Liaising with regulators

Our competent person works closely with regulators to ensure that the workplace complies with applicable health & safety laws and regulations.

Inspecting the workplace

We regularly inspect the workplace to ensure that it is hazard and risk free (where practicable) and that safety policies and procedures are being followed.

Maintaining records

Detailed record maintenance of incidents, inspections, and training is paramount, to ensure that the workplace complies with health and safety regulations and policies.

What else does our competent person service offer:

Health & Safety support and advice by phone or email during business hours
A qualified, designated competent person
Monthly newsletter
You can inform your clients we act as your health & safety competent person (certificate provided)
Discounted prices on other health and safety services we offer
Certification of association

How much does it cost?

At Ablemarsh, we can act as your competent person from £30 per month for a 12-month period.

However, we can also offer our competent person service as part of one of our popular packages.

Contact us to discuss your competent person requirements.

Get in touch

Our Popular Health and Safety Packages

Our clients often tell us that they would benefit from a package of our health and safety services, rather than using each service individually. That’s why we have put together our most popular Health and Safety services into easy-to-understand packages for you here.