Competent Person
Businesses have an obligation to appoint a competent person to enable you to meet the requirements of health and safety law.
A competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to assist you properly. The level of competence required will depend on the complexity of the situation and the particular help you need.
When getting help, you should give preference to those in your own organisation who have the appropriate level of competence (which can include the employer themselves) before looking for help from outside. You must consult health and safety representatives in good time on the arrangements for competent help.
Competent Person Service
Every employer is required under law to appoint at least one Competent Health and Safety Person to assist them meet their legal health and safety obligations.
This is a requirement under the Management of Health & Safety Regulations 1999, any employer who has not done this is in breach of their statutory duty under Health and Safety Legislation and therefore becomes liable to criminal prosecution.
Why do I need a Competent H&S Advisor?
This is a requirement of the Management of Health & Safety Regulations 1999, which states that:
very Employer shall appoint one or more competent persons to assist them in understanding the measures they need to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon them by or under the relevant statutory provisions.
This being a legal requirement.
Also, as per the Management of Health & Safety Regulations 1999 –
A person shall be regarded as competent where they have sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable them properly to assist in the undertakings.
What does your External Competent H&S Advisor do?
- Help/assistance (via a telephone helpline) on everyday health and safety issues which arise during the working day.
- Advisory guidance by email or telephone relating to your raised concerns, which in turn gives you the interpretation of applicable health and safety legislation as laid down by the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974, associated Regulations, Approved Codes of Practice and Guidance.
- Advice and updates as Health & Safety Legislation changes.
- A regular Newsletter which includes topics of interest, changes to Health & Safety Legislation.
- Our service also covers up to 5-hours consultancy time per annual subscription to the service.
Our Service:
Our team will deliver to your Company a Friendly, Expert Advisory Service from highly qualified Health and Safety Professionals. Our specialist service includes:
- A Certificate of Engagement of our External Competent Advisory Service, this being valid for one year. The certificate is provided in a pdf format so that you can include the document into your job tenders and display it in your office reception area.
- Office hours telephone help line for health and safety related issues which you may come across during your companies’ daily scope of works.
- Provision of advisory guidance by emails relating to your health and safety questions and queries. This giving your Nominated Responsible Person step by step guidance on how to deal with and address issues within your working environment.
- Advice and updates as Health & Safety Legislation changes.
- Regular newsletters containing general & construction advice and any legislation date changes where applicable.
- Our Competent H&S Adviser Service covers your company for a full 12 months. Note: A maximum of 5-hours remote Consultancy time is included in this service
When can I access the service?
The service covers an office hours telephone helpline and access to 24-hr Emergency Telephone helpline.
Competent Person Service
This remote service satisfies H&S Legislation and is also a requirement for SSIP Accreditations. Our highly qualified Health and Safety Professionals deliver this advisory service as support for your Management Team and business. The service includes access via phone or email to one of our Health and Safety Professionals.
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