Competence in Health and Safety should be seen as an important component of workplace activities, not an add-on or afterthought. It is the combination of training, skills, experience and knowledge that a person has, and their ability to apply them to perform a task safely. Other factors, such as attitude and physical ability, can also affect someone’s competence.
As an employer, you should take account of the competence of relevant employees when you are conducting your risk assessments, as well as suppliers, when purchasing costly equipment. This will help you decide what level of information, instruction, training and supervision you need to provide.
If you use contractors, you have a legal responsibility to make sure they are competent.