Health and Safety Competent Person Service
A competent person has the necessary training, experience, and knowledge to assist with health and safety compliance. Employers must appoint at least one competent person. Bravanark Network provides expert support to help businesses meet legal requirements and maintain workplace safety.
Every employer has a legal duty to protect workers and the health and safety of their employees and anyone affected by their work. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, you must appoint at least one “competent person” to help you comply with these requirements and provide essential safety support.
This role is vital for ensuring your workplace follows safety at work regulations and avoids unnecessary risks, accidents or penalties.
What is a competent person?
A competent person acts as your safety advisor. They have the training, knowledge and experience to identify hazards in your workplace, assess risks, and recommend sensible control measures to keep people safe.
In practical terms, a competent person helps you:
- Recognise potential dangers before they cause harm
- Put effective control measures in place that meet legal standards
- Ensure your workplace complies with current health and safety law
- Provide advice on policies, procedures and safe systems of work
Who can you appoint?
The law allows flexibility when appointing a competent person.
You could choose to appoint:
- yourself, if you have the time and expertise
- one or more of your workers
- someone from outside your business
While many employers try to handle health and safety themselves, it is not always simple. Regulations can be complex, and keeping up to date with changes takes time. If no one in your workforce has the right level of competence, it can leave your business exposed.
Why does this matter?
Failing to appoint a competent person can have serious consequences. Businesses that do not comply with health and safety law may face fines, enforcement notices, reputational damage and even prosecution in the event of an accident. More importantly, poor safety management puts people at risk.
Why Bravanark Network?
Our health and safety competent person service gives you access to professional health and safety expertise without the cost of recruiting or training in-house staff.
Our service provides:
- Expert compliance – clear guidance on how to meet your legal duties
- Tailored advice – recommendations specific to your workplace and industry
- Effective solutions – practical steps that genuinely improve safety
- Ongoing support – from risk assessments and documentation to day-to-day queries
- Peace of mind – reassurance that your legal obligations are being met
Our team is trained to IOSH standards, giving you confidence that your business is supported by qualified safety professionals who understand the latest best practice.
By working with us, you gain a trusted partner who is dedicated to keeping your workplace safe and your team protected.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every employer must appoint at least one competent person to assist with compliance. This applies to all businesses, regardless of size.
Competence is judged by a person’s combination of skills, knowledge and experience. They must be able to recognise hazards, understand legal requirements and advise on appropriate control measures. If no one in your business meets this standard, you should consider outsourcing the role.
Yes. Many businesses appoint an external safety advisor as their competent person. This is often more efficient and cost-effective than training or hiring someone internally, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
Formal qualifications are not always required, but they can demonstrate competence and specialist knowledge. What matters most is having the right mix of training, experience and practical understanding. Many health and safety officers complete IOSH-accredited training to strengthen their expertise.
There is no official government-issued “competent person certificate.” Instead, competence is judged by your skills, knowledge and experience. Completing IOSH-accredited training can provide certification that proves your competence to act in this role.
We provide a full competent person service. This means acting as your health and safety advisor, guiding you on compliance with regulations, recommending appropriate control measures, and supporting you with ongoing advice. We give you the confidence that health and safety is being managed professionally.