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.

OSHA defines a Competent Person as the following: Person capable of identifying hazards Has the authority to stop the job if necessary and the authority to make corrections to the hazards Determines if it’s safe to work on a particular project Trains other workers to recognize hazards Should always be at the job site

OSHA defines a competent person in 1926.32 (f) as a person who has the capability of accurately identifying any potential or existing hazards within the working environment. This person must also be able to promptly take corrective measures to minimize and eliminate working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous and dangerous.

The OSHA Construction Standard defines a competent person as someone 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.