What Is a Competent Person in Health and Safety – And Are They Truly Competent?

Every UK employer has a legal duty to appoint one or more competent persons to help meet their health and safety obligations. But while the term “competent person” is well-known, it’s also widely misunderstood.

At Spur Safety, we’re often asked:

👉 Can any employee be the competent person?

👉 Does it require formal training or qualifications?

👉 Can I outsource the role?

Let’s break it down — and explain how to get it right.

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What Does the Law Say?

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must:

“Appoint one or more competent persons to assist them in undertaking the measures they need to take to comply with legal requirements.”

In plain terms: if you’re running a business, someone needs to know what they’re doing when it comes to safety — and be able to help you act on it.

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So… What Makes Someone ‘Competent’?

According to the HSE, a competent person must have:

• Sufficient training

• Relevant experience

• Practical knowledge of the tasks and associated risks

It’s not just about having a NEBOSH certificate or ticking a box. It’s about understanding the specific hazards in your industry and being able to put practical controls in place.

Examples of competencies include:

• Construction site safety knowledge

• Understanding of working at height, asbestos, confined spaces

• Manual handling risk assessments

• Fire risk understanding in public buildings

• Reporting and investigation of near misses or incidents

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The Danger of “In-Name-Only” Competent Persons

Far too often, we see businesses assign the role of ‘competent person’ to:

• An office manager with no H&S training

• A site worker already overstretched with daily tasks

• A director who assumes it’s a paperwork exercise

The result? Gaps in compliance, missed hazards, rushed risk assessments, and poor incident response. This not only puts people at risk — it leaves you exposed to prosecution, fines, and reputational damage.

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How Spur Safety Supports Competent Person Duties

At Spur Safety, we offer:

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Full Competent Person Services

For businesses without internal capability, we act as your external competent person — providing proactive support, inspections, training, and documentation.

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Support for In-House Competent Persons

We mentor, guide, and supplement your internal team — giving them tools, templates, confidence, and backup from experienced consultants.

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Industry-Specific Expertise

Whether you work in construction, property management, fire safety, or education, we tailor our support to your risks, responsibilities, and team structure.

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Signs You May Need Help With Competent Person Duties

• You’ve had a recent near miss or HSE inspection

• You’re unsure who your competent person even is

• Safety paperwork is outdated or incomplete

• Risk assessments aren’t site-specific

• Fire, working at height, or COSHH procedures haven’t been reviewed in 12+ months

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It’s Not Just About Paperwork. It’s About People.

Being a competent person means making sure risks are identified, controlled, and communicated. It means ensuring staff are trained, equipment is maintained, and emergencies are planned for.

Ultimately, it’s about making sure everyone goes home safe — every single day.

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Need Support? Spur Safety Can Help.

We’ve supported dozens of businesses across the UK as their competent person — or by helping upskill their team to take on the role effectively. If you’re not 100% confident in your current setup, let’s talk.

🔗 Contact us today or email info@spursafety.co.uk

📍 Based in the UK – supporting clients nationwide

🛠️ Specialists in construction, property, fire risk, and drone safety audits

🔥 What Happens During a Fire Risk Assessment?

A Step-by-Step Guide to Keeping Your Premises Safe & Compliant

If you own or manage a business, workplace, school, or commercial property, a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) isn’t optional — it’s a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

But what actually happens during one? Is it disruptive? Complicated? Expensive?

At Spur Safety, we’re here to demystify the process and help you prepare confidently.

✅ What Is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A Fire Risk Assessment is a structured review of your premises, designed to:

• Identify potential fire hazards

• Evaluate the risk to people in the building

• Review current fire safety measures

• Recommend improvements to protect life, property, and compliance

It’s not a pass/fail inspection — it’s a risk-based improvement tool backed by law.

🏢 Who Needs One?

Under UK law, all non-domestic premises require a Fire Risk Assessment — particularly if you:

• Employ five or more staff

• Have public access (e.g. retail, schools)

• Operate shared premises

• Provide sleeping accommodation (e.g. hostels, care homes)

💡 This includes schools, offices, warehouses, event venues, farms, and more.

🔍 What to Expect from Your FRA with Spur Safety

1. Pre-Visit Planning

We start with a short call or form to gather key info:

• Type, size, and purpose of premises

• Occupancy details (staff, public, vulnerable groups)

• Current fire safety systems, policies, or past assessments

2. On-Site Inspection

We carry out a detailed walkthrough of your premises, checking:

• 🔥 Fire hazards (ignition sources, flammables, machinery)

• 🚪 Fire exits, signage, travel distances

• 🧯 Extinguishers, alarms, emergency lighting

• 🧱 Fire doors and compartmentation

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People at risk (e.g. disabled persons, lone workers)

• 📦 Storage practices and housekeeping

• 📝 Availability of evacuation plans and signage

We often take photos (with your permission) to illustrate issues clearly in the report.

3. Document Review

We examine any available fire safety documentation, such as:

• Fire alarm test records

• Fire extinguisher servicing logs

• Fire evacuation plans and drills

• Fire policy

• Training logs

• PAT testing and electrical safety certificates

4. Final Report & Action Plan

You’ll receive a clear, plain-English report that includes:

• ✅ Summary of hazards and risks

• ✅ Priority-based action list (high / medium / low)

• ✅ Photos of any issues found

• ✅ Legal guidance and recommendations

• ✅ Review dates and compliance suggestions

We’ll also guide you through the findings if needed — no jargon, no sales pressure.

🔧 Common Problems We Spot

• ❌ Wedges holding open fire doors

• ❌ Blocked or locked fire exits

• ❌ Outdated or untested extinguishers

• ❌ Missing or damaged signage

• ❌ Inadequate evacuation plans

• ❌ Fire loads stored unsafely

Most of these issues are quick to fix with the right support — and that’s where we come in.

🚨 What Happens Next?

After you receive the report, Spur Safety can help you:

• Implement recommendations

• Update your fire safety policy

• Arrange fire door surveys

• Deliver fire marshal or basic awareness training

• Prepare for insurance or local authority inspections

📅 Book Your FRA with Spur Safety Today

Don’t risk fines, insurance issues — or worse, a preventable incident.
We make fire safety compliance clear, easy, and affordable.
👉 Email: info@spurenterprises.co.uk

🛡️ About Spur Safety

Spur Safety provides expert fire and health & safety consultancy across the UK. We specialise in supporting schools, offices, construction, agriculture, warehousing, and events. Our services include drone inspections, audits, policy writing, and training support.