EM 385-1-1 Competent Person vs Qualified Person.

The Two Definitions

A Competent Person (CP) is "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" (paragraph 2-2.d).

A Qualified Person (QP) is "an individual who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project" (paragraph 2-2.p).

The difference is in the verbs. The competent person identifies hazards and has the authority to correct them; the authority is part of the definition. The qualified person solves problems, on the strength of a degree, certificate, or professional standing, or of extensive knowledge, training, and experience.

What Each One Does

In the contractor chapter, the competent person develops AHAs and coordinates their review with affected employees, oversees work and takes prompt corrective measures when conditions become unsafe, and develops and signs the site-specific APP (paragraph 2-4.c). The qualified person provides guidance and performs work activities as the manual requires (paragraph 2-4.d). All safety training has to be conducted by a qualified or competent person, as required (paragraph 2-3.a(2)).

How the Chapters Build on Them

Individual chapters define their own versions of each role. A few examples:

• The Competent Person for Fall Protection, designated in writing by the employer, supervises the fall protection program on site; the Qualified Person for Fall Protection holds a recognized degree or professional certificate and designs, analyzes, evaluates, and specifies fall protection and rescue systems (paragraphs 21-2.i and 21-2.t)
• The Competent Person for Scaffolding and the Competent Person for Excavations are each designated in writing by the employer to supervise their chapter's work plan (paragraphs 22-2.a and 25-2.d)
• A Qualified Rigger meets the qualified person criteria and is designated by the employer in writing to rig loads or oversee rigging (paragraph 15-2.a)
• The confined space Entry Supervisor is the qualified person responsible for deciding whether acceptable entry conditions are present (paragraph 34-2.i)
• A Level 3 SSHO is a designated qualified or competent person with the experience to identify hazards and implement controls for the work (paragraph 2-3.b(3))

Training Is Not Designation

Neither role is created by a training certificate alone. The AHA for an activity identifies the training requirements, and the employer designates in writing, for example by certification or company letter, any required competent and qualified persons by name for the activity, and provides proof of their competency or qualification (paragraph 2-6.d(4)(g)). When a competent or qualified person changes, the AHA is updated (paragraph 2-6.d(5)).

That's how our training works too: our in-person classes give your people the training and a certificate to show for it, and your company makes the designation. See our training courses, or read about fall protection and scaffold competent person training requirements.