Deciding who can help employers with their duties

Employers should appoint someone competent to help them meet their safety and health duties. A competent person is someone with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to manage safety and health. In many cases, employers will know the risks in their own business best. This will mean that they are the competent person and can carry out the risk assessments themselves.

Employers could appoint one or a combination of:

• themselves;
• one or more of their workers;
• someone from outside their business.

Many businesses can develop the necessary expertise in-house and are well equipped to manage safety and health themselves. However, there are some things you may not be able to do for yourself and you may decide to get external help.

Possible sources of advice include;

• trade associations;
• safety groups;
• trade unions;
• safety and health training providers;
• safety and health equipment suppliers.

Identifying and deciding what help they need is very important. If they appoint someone to help them they must ensure that they are competent to carry out the tasks given to them and that they are provided with adequate information and support. If employers are not clear about what they want, they probably won’t get the help they need.

Some points organizations should consider if using external help

• Organizations must make sure they clearly explain what is needed and check that this is understood. Asking the consultants to explain what they understand the work to be and what they will do, when they will do it, and what they will charge.
• Check the consultant is competent ask for evidence of relevant safety and health training/knowledge, such as formal qualifications or practical experience of providing advice in the industry/area of work.
• Can the consultant explain why they are competent to advise the organization on the particular problem?
• Is the consultant a member of a professional body? If in doubt, the organization should check with the professional body on what training, knowledge or qualifications are relevant and whether the consultant is listed as a member.
• Organizations should shop around to find the right help at the right price. If buying equipment or another service, the first offer is not always accepted, so do the same with safety and health advice.
• Finally organizations should consider whether they have received the help they needed. Do they have a practical, sensible solution to the problem? Or have they ended up with something completely ‘over the top’ or a mountain of useless paperwork? If they are not happy with the solution, ask for an explanation and whether there may be a simpler alternative.

Organizations should try to make sure that they get a good follow-up service and are able to get further advice on any issues that arise from implementing the recommendations.