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      Health & Safety Competent Person

      Who Can Be A Competent Person For Health and Safety?

      Anyone can be a competent person for health and safety provided they have sufficient knowledge of the job, environment, and risks. They must also have sufficient technical knowledge of health and safety to understand legal requirements and how to apply them in practice.

      Most organisations already have a great deal of competence within their own workforce, such as for engineering, maintenance activities, or staff welfare. However, if they lack the knowledge and expertise to implement health and safety legislation or address risks, they need support.

      Many organisations employ their own Competent Person for Health and Safety to have an internal resource. However, our experience shows that these individuals often work in isolation with little or no support for discussing or verifying technical health and safety matters. It is also important to remember that one person cannot know everything. This is where our Competent Person Service can assist.

      It can support your internal expertise, or you can rely entirely on us to be your Competent Person, providing unlimited access via telephone and email. It’s like having your own Health and Safety Advisor working remotely.

      What Does Our Health & Safety Competent Person Service Cover?

      • A framed Certificate of Appointment for use on your website, marketing materials, or sharing with your insurers.
      • The ability to use our name with internal and external stakeholders as your Appointed Competent Person.
      • An agreed amount of time each year for the services you require.
      • A flat or discounted rate for services within the days you pre-purchase in the package. If you use time for training, our Health and Safety Competent Person Service becomes even more cost-effective. Training rates are higher than consultancy outside of a contract. The more days you pre-purc
      • Bespoke and targeted guidance on how best to use your time. You choose what you use your time on, and you can change your mind if you wish. After all, it's your time – we don’t have a fixed package regardless of what you may want or need. We tailor the package to fit your wants and needs.
      • Newsletters and news alerts via email to keep you up to date.
      • Free insured advice included within the package, in addition to the protection provided by our Professional Indemnity Insurance
      • Discounts on additional time you may need outside of pre-agreed days that are “banked” within the service level agreement.
      • Expert witness services at discounted rates.
      • Priority over non-contract customers.

      What’s The Difference Between A Competent Person & A Qualified Person?

      There are several differences between a Competent Person and a Qualified Person for health and safety. Some are straightforward, while others are more subtle and not as easy to detect.

      Anyone can read a book, learn the theory, and pass a test to obtain a qualification. However, this does not necessarily mean they understand how to apply what they have learned or use the theory in various environments and situations. Relying solely on qualification to demonstrate competence can be a significant risk to your business.

      Conversely, someone with many years of experience in a particular environment may be familiar with all the challenges and problems that are likely to arise. However, they can only deal with what they know and, while they may have a pragmatic nature, they might not know the technical or legal requirements and what is deemed “reasonably practicable.” In other words, “they don’t know what they don’t know.”

      Clearly, a Competent Person needs a combination of technical knowledge and practical experience. Other skills are also important in demonstrating competence, such as the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people in a way they can understand.

      At PHSC, a key element of competence is knowing your limitations. This is where we can add value. Our standard is for our consultants/trainers to have Chartered Safety Professional status, and if a consultant is unsure, they have access to many colleagues within our group who can help. This assures you that the advice you receive is technically correct as well as relevant.

      Interim Health & Safety Advisor

      Our Interim Health & Safety Advisor Service fills an essential gap in your team. This may be due to several reasons, including:

      • While recruiting your internal person (we can assist with your recruitment, selection, and vetting processes while providing important support pending the appointment of the new person).
      • If you have a particularly large project and need additional support to help your existing team or a specific project requiring expertise you don’t currently have and may not need in the future.
      • To provide support if your specialist is absent for a while, such as due to illness or during maternity leave.

      Our dedicated consultant will seamlessly become a part of your team, providing the necessary support to ensure the continuous and efficient delivery of your health and safety management system requirements.

      This efficient approach allows your human resources to focus on their primary functions while we take care of your immediate and short-term needs. Whether you need support for a few days a week, a month, or on a full-time basis, we can tailor the support you want and provide a very experienced and fully qualified professional. You can also adjust the service level to more or fewer days as things change, giving you total control and complete flexibility in your resource needs.

      Create a bespoke package: choose the services that suit your organisation

      Download our PDF

      Joining Our Safety Advisor Service

      If you would like to find out more about joining our Competent Person Service, please contact us:

      Tel: 01622 717700   Email: enquiries@phsc.co.uk

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