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.
✅
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.
🧠
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
🚫
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.
🛡️
How Spur Safety Supports Competent Person Duties
At Spur Safety, we offer:
✔️
Full Competent Person Services
For businesses without internal capability, we act as your external competent person — providing proactive support, inspections, training, and documentation.
✔️
Support for In-House Competent Persons
We mentor, guide, and supplement your internal team — giving them tools, templates, confidence, and backup from experienced consultants.
✔️
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.
🔍
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
🗂️
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.
📞
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
