Competence

Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to appoint one or more competent persons to assist in undertaking the measures needed to comply with the requirements of any relevant statutory provisions.

Furthermore, where an employer can appoint such a person from within the organisation (i.e. if that person exists or can be trained), that should be done in preference to an external appointment but, whether appointed internally or externally, the person(s) appointed must be competent to carry out the tasks assigned and must be given appropriate levels of information and support.

Accordingly, clients considering instructing IRM will need to be aware of the expertise available (see about our team) and the regulations suggest that competence involves:

•  an understanding of relevant current best practice
•  an awareness of the limitations of one’s experience and knowledge
•  the willingness and ability to supplement existing experience and knowledge by obtaining help and advice, when necessary
•  a higher level of knowledge and experience or specific applied knowledge or skill, where more complex or highly technical situations exist

Full CVs are available, for all IRM personnel, on request.

As mentioned above, it is also important to recognise the limitations of the competence provided.  Accordingly, although the following areas of activity are not currently offered, in terms of either competent advice or training, the network of specialists available to IRM means that they could be sourced, on behalf of a client, or become available, at any time.

•  Offshore installations
•  Railways
•  Mines and quarries