Competent Person Responsibilities
OSHA defines a competent person 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."
A competent person must be capable of taking corrective action to eliminate heat stress hazards.
Competent person responsibilities shall include:
- Program Implementation: Put the site-specific heat-stress program and ANSI A10.50 requirements into action.
- Hazard Analysis: Perform job- and task-level assessments to identify heat-stress risks.
- Worker Monitoring: Watch for early signs and symptoms of heat illness and respond promptly.
- Access to Fluids & Shade: Make sure workers have ample cool drinking water or electrolyte drinks, and shaded or cool rest areas.
- Rest and Hydration: Enforce scheduled breaks in shaded rest areas, and encourage adequate fluid intake.
- Heat Stress Controls: Apply engineering, administrative, and PPE controls to reduce heat stress.
- Acclimatization Oversight: Ensure new or returning workers build up heat tolerance before full-heat duties.
- Conditions Monitoring: Track changing heat conditions (e.g., via WBGT monitors) and interpret results.
- Effectiveness Checks: Verify that controls are working as intended and adjust if necessary.
- Communication: Lead toolbox talks, coordinate with crews and other employers on multi-employer sites.
- Emergency Response: Initiate first-aid and emergency protocols at the first sign of a heat-related incident.
- Qualified-Person Consultation: Seek technical guidance from the qualified person whenever needed.
- Documentation: Keep records demonstrating competence (training certificates, assessments, etc.).
Qualified Person Responsibilities
OSHA defines a qualified person as, "one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated an ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project."
- Program Design and Review: Help develop and periodically review the heat-stress program — ensuring it follows the control hierarchy.
- Heat Metric Expertise: Advise on selecting, using, and interpreting the WBGT (or chosen heat index).
- Emergency Planning: Assist in creating and updating the first-aid and emergency action plans for heat illness.
- Technical Support: Provide ongoing guidance to the competent person on extreme conditions, workload monitoring, and control effectiveness.
- Stakeholder Coordination: Communicate program requirements and changes with employees, management, and contractors.
Supervisors shall put procedures into practice that lower the chance of heat-related illness.
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4-3. What does a competent person have the authority to do on a jobsite?
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