Tag Archives: competent person

OSHA Competent Person

OSHA Competent Person – Who Is It?

Leave a reply

Competent Person requirements tend to be confusing. I think we can help. We’ll start with OSHA’s definition and then simplify it a bit.

The OSHA topic page defines competent person as follows:

The term “Competent Person” is used in many OSHA standards and documents. An OSHA “competent person” is defined as “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them” [29 CFR 1926.32(f)]. By way of training and/or experience, a competent person is knowledgeable of applicable standards, is capable of identifying workplace hazards relating to the specific operation, and has the authority to correct them. Some standards add additional specific requirements which must be met by the competent person.

So at a minimum, a competent person (“CP”) has the following qualities:

  • (1) Capability
  • (2) Specific Knowledge
  • (3) Authority

Capability

What this means is that the “CP” possesses the ability to identify unsafe conditions, equipment, and procedures specific to whatever area over which they have been deemed a “CP” – such as, for example, confined space entry.

The question of how this ability is obtained leads us to the second quality of a competent person.

Specific Knowledge

The “CP” possesses specific knowledge by either experience or training. Ideally, he or she should have both.

Using our confined space example, we could say the following. The “CP” would need to know the OSHA Confined Space Standards. For example, they would need to know things like entry, rescue, and entrant duties and how to implement them at the work site.

They would need to understand the use and operation of the tripod rescue equipment. This would include things like operation of the winch, and set up of the tripod. They would need to know and verify that such equipment is routinely inspected per the manufacturer’s instructions.

The “CP” would need to understand the use and operation of the gas detection equipment. For example, they would need to insure that it is working to factory specs and that it has a current calibration.

Major Safety Complete Confined Space Kit

This picture shows just a few of the items the Confined Space “CP” would need to have knowledge about. You can see more at the Confined Space page at majorsafety.com.

 

 

Authority

Finally, the first two are worthless unless the “CP” possesses the authority to act on any unsafe condition, equipment or procedure that he or she finds.

For example, if the “CP” does not have the authority to pull an entrant who is unable to properly operate a gas detector, then they aren’t an OSHA competent person.

And if the “CP” is not authorized to stop a job upon finding that the gas detector is out of calibration, then they aren’t an OSHA competent person.

Competent Person Equals – Capability, Knowledge, Authority

Remember these three things as you designate or act as your company’s OSHA competent person. Doing so will insure that everyone comes home safely.

 

DBI Sala Self Retracting Lifeline

Self Retracting Lifeline and Winch Inspection

Leave a reply

How often do self retracting lifelines and rescue winches need to be inspected and recertified? Knowing the difference between an inspection and a recertification will help answer this question.

Miller Manhandler Tripod Rescue Winch    DBI Sala Self Retracting Lifeline

Inspection – Rescue Winch and Self Retracting Lifeline

The inspection is to be done by the company who purchased the winch or lifeline. There are two kinds of inspections.

The first is the inspection required before each use of the winch or lifeline. This inspection is done by the end user – the person or persons actually using the device.

The second is an inspection required anywhere from monthly to annually, depending on the manufacturer. This inspection is to be done by the company’s designated competent person – not the end user. What is a competent person? See Here – OSHA competent person.

Typically these inspections involve a check of the braking mechanism, the cable, the device housing, labels, load indicator, and hardware like the snap hook. The device’s instruction manual will give details on what to inspect and how to inspect it.

If the inspection of the rescue winch or self retracting lifeline reveals any problems (details for these would be in the manual) the device is to be taken out of service. Recertification will be required before the device can be put back into service.

Recertification – Rescue Winch and Self Retracting Lifeline

If the end user inspection or the competent person inspection find any “part of the system that appears to be damaged”, or find inconsistencies as outlined in the rescue winch or self retracting lifeline instruction manual, the device must be sent back to the factory for recertification.

If the device is involved in a braking or rescue incident, it will also need to be sent back to the factory for recertification (see device’s instruction manual for details).

The recertification process is facilitated by a distributor and performed by the factory. The distributor will obtain an RMA from the factory and provide that information to the customer. The price of the recertification depends entirely on the manufacturer, the item and the problem.

Below are some helpful examples of the above requirements from Miller and DBI Sala:

All the pics are linked to products at Major Safety. There you can get additional info, purchase, or contact us with more questions. We are happy to help.

by Corby Amos