Jorge Castanon, Safety Consultant, FRSA Self Insurer's Fund
We all want to stay abreast of OSHA requirements that are related to the construction industry. While there are many, one that is often overlooked is the OSHA standard 1926.32(f) or the requirement that an employer assign a competent person to each job site to perform frequent and regular inspections.
What is a Competent Person?
The OSHA standard states that a competent person is “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings of working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.”
So, a competent person needs to know what the hazards are, constantly watch for and identify those hazards and then take immediate corrective action to either solve the issues or stop the work until the issues can be resolved. An individual can be identified as competent in many tasks, such as fall protection, scaffolding, excavation, electrical work and confined space to name a few. OSHA actually has competency requirements for 19 of their standards. A competent person is assigned by the employer or supervisor based on his or her training, knowledge and experience and is given the authority to promptly make corrections or stop the work when he or she finds a
hazard on the job.
For more information about a competent person visit www.osha.com or FRSA-SIF members can contact your local Safety Consultant.
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