External Competent Person Support
SS Safety Ltd
Every employer must appoint one or more competent people to assist them in meeting their health and safety duties.
Where your business does not have sufficient health and safety competence internally, SS Safety Ltd can provide experienced external support tailored to your organisation, activities and level of risk.
You will work directly with Shaun Smith, a Chartered Member of IOSH with extensive practical experience across manufacturing, haulage, chemicals, construction, utilities, agriculture and professional services.
The service can range from occasional advice to an ongoing retained arrangement involving workplace visits, policy development, risk assessments, inspections, management meetings and continued support.
Does Your Business Need External Competent-Person Support?
The competent person does not always need to be an external consultant.
The employer may appoint:
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The employer personally, where suitably competent.
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One or more competent employees.
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Someone from outside the organisation.
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A suitable combination of internal and external assistance.
External support may therefore be appropriate where:
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Sufficient competence is not available internally.
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Internal staff need specialist support or mentoring.
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The company’s risks have become more complex.
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The business is expanding rapidly.
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Managers cannot devote sufficient time to maintaining the arrangements.
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A competent employee needs independent advice on unfamiliar risks.
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Customers, tenders or accreditation schemes require evidence of competent assistance.
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The organisation needs periodic independent review.
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An accident or significant change has exposed weaknesses.
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The business needs a reliable source of advice between scheduled visits.
SS Safety can work alongside your directors, managers, employees and existing health and safety representatives. The intention is to strengthen internal management not replace it.
What Can the SS Safety Competent Person Service Include?
The service is adapted to the size, activities, risk profile and existing resources of your business. It can include any / all of the following.
Services
Initial Health and Safety Review:
We establish a clear understanding of your organisation and its current arrangements. This may involve:
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An initial management meeting.
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Workplace and site visits.
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Review of existing policies and procedures.
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Review of risk assessments and safe systems of work.
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Discussion with managers, supervisors and employees.
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Identification of significant hazards.
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Review of training and competence arrangements.
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Assessment of contractor controls.
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Review of accident and near-miss information.
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Identification of immediate and longer-term priorities.
The findings are used to agree the appropriate scope of support.
Named Source of Competent Assistance:
When agreed, SS Safety can be formally identified as an external source of competent health and safety assistance.
This may be evidenced through a competent person appointment letter or contract detailing:
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A defined consultancy agreement.
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Description of the agreed services.
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Contact and escalation arrangements.
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Evidence of professional competence and insurance.
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Review terms and frequency.
SS Safety may also be identified as your external competent adviser in suitable client questionnaires, tenders and accreditation submissions, provided that the description accurately reflects the service supplied.
Telephone and Email Advice:
Clients can obtain advice when questions arise between scheduled visits.
This may include:
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Interpretation of health and safety requirements.
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Advice concerning changes to work activities.
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Accident and near-miss response.
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RIDDOR considerations.
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Risk assessment queries.
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Contractor and client requirements.
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Employee health and safety concerns.
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Enforcement or inspection preparation.
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Review of customer and tender questions.
The service is intended to give management reliable access to someone who already understands the business.
Policies, Risk Assessment and Procedures:
SS Safety can prepare and maintain the documents appropriate to your organisation, which may include:
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Health and safety policy and arrangements.
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Roles and responsibilities.
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Risk-assessment procedure.
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Accident and incident reporting.
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Contractor management.
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Work equipment.
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Workplace transport.
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COSHH and chemical safety.
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Working at height.
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Manual handling.
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Display screen equipment.
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Lone working.
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Fire and emergency arrangements.
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Occupational health.
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Employee consultation.
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Training and competence.
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Monitoring and review.
The documentation required will be determined by your activities and risks. We do not supply an identical package to every client.
Workplace Inspections and Audits:
Scheduled visits can be used to:
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Observe work activities.
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Confirm whether agreed controls are implemented.
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Identify new or changing hazards.
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Speak with employees and supervisors.
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Review equipment and workplace conditions.
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Check progress against previous actions.
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Examine records and supporting evidence.
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Provide management with a prioritised report.
The frequency of visits will depend on the level of risk, rate of change and internal management capability.
Accident and Incident Support:
SS Safety can help management respond appropriately following an accident, near miss or dangerous occurrence.
Support may include:
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Initial advice and preservation of evidence.
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RIDDOR considerations.
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Investigation planning.
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Interviews and evidence gathering.
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Identification of immediate, underlying and root causes.
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Review of existing risk controls.
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Corrective and preventive actions.
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Revision of policies, risk assessments and procedures.
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Communication of lessons learned.
Where legal representation, engineering analysis, occupational hygiene or another specialist service is required, this will be explained.
Why Appoint SS Safety?
Direct Access to a Chartered Professional
You will work directly with Shaun Smith rather than having the initial assessment completed by a senior consultant and routine work passed to less experienced staff.
Practical industry experience, SS Safety has experience across:
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Manufacturing and engineering.
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Haulage and workplace transport.
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Chemical preparation and solvent use.
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Waste and recycling.
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Utilities and biosolids.
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Construction and building services.
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Grounds maintenance and agriculture.
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Printing and packaging.
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Offices and professional services.
