Competent Person

Many of the Ministry of Labour's regulations mention that a task must be completed by a person with adequate knowledge, training, and experience. This is easy to understand because it lists the necessary requirements. However, the OHS Confined Spaces Regulation frequently uses the term "competent person." A competent person, according to the OHS, is a person who meets the following criteria:

• Has the knowledge, training, and experience to organize the work and its performance
• Is familiar with the regulations that apply to the work
• Has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace

The phrase that denotes a competent person is being able and expected to "organize the work and its performance." This means not only can they perform the task at hand, but they can also direct employees on their particular roles to ensure success. The employee who acts as the competent person on a job is responsible for vital tasks such as developing and implementing the confined space plan and verifying the entry permit at the beginning of each shift.

To learn more about Confined Spaces visit our Canada Confined Space Online Training web page.