According to OSHA, a competent person is _____.

According to OSHA, a competent person is _____.

• A. A worker who can identify hazards and is authorized to take prompt corrective measures.
• B. A supervisor who assigns tasks to crew.
• C. An OSHA inspector.
• D. A person who has completed a safety training course.

Answer: (A)

OSHA defines a competent person as someone who can identify hazards and has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. This combination—recognizing hazards and being empowered to fix them right away—is what makes a person competent on the job site. It’s not enough to simply be a supervisor, an inspector, or someone who has completed safety training; those alone don’t guarantee the authority to stop work or correct conditions immediately. For example, if a worker spots a damaged scaffold board, a competent person can order it to be secured or replaced before continuing work.

OSHA defines a competent person as someone who can identify hazards and has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. This combination—recognizing hazards and being empowered to fix them right away—is what makes a person competent on the job site. It’s not enough to simply be a supervisor, an inspector, or someone who has completed safety training; those alone don’t guarantee the authority to stop work or correct conditions immediately. For example, if a worker spots a damaged scaffold board, a competent person can order it to be secured or replaced before continuing work.