- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 7)
- HSE Guidance INDG420: Selecting a H&S Consultancy
Regulation 7: Access to competent assistance
Under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every UK employer must appoint one or more competent persons to assist them in undertaking the measures needed to comply with health and safety duties. This is underpinned by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
What constitutes competence?
Competence is a combination of knowledge, training, skills, and experience, alongside an understanding of the specific operational risks of the business.
A competent person appointed by an organisation must be capable of:
- Identifying workplace hazards and evaluating risk severity
- Recommending proportionate control measures
- Reviewing statutory policies and RAMS (Risk Assessments & Method Statements)
- Assisting during enforcement liaison or accident investigations
Retained outsource model vs internal employment
For many SMEs, housing providers, and growing businesses, employing a full-time Chartered Health & Safety Practitioner is cost-prohibitive.
Appointing Lanahan Risk Management Services Ltd as your retained competent person provides named access to a Chartered Safety Practitioner (CMIOSH) listed on the OSHCR register without the overhead of an internal executive salary.
The HSE guidance INDG420 explains how to select a competent consultancy.
Cited Sources & Official References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a competent person under health and safety law?
Under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, a competent person is someone with sufficient knowledge, training, skills and experience to assist the employer in complying with health and safety duties.
Is appointing a competent person a legal requirement?
Yes. Every employer must appoint one or more competent persons under Regulation 7 of the Management Regulations 1999. This can be an internal employee or an external consultancy.
Does appointing LRMS transfer legal responsibility?
No. LRMS provides competent professional assistance, but ultimate employer and management duties remain with the legal duty holders. Outsourcing provides access to expertise, not a transfer of legal responsibility.
About Louanne Lanahan
Founder & Director · CMIOSH · OSHCR · MIFSM
Chartered Safety Practitioner (CMIOSH), registered on OSHCR, MIFSM, AIFireE, and NFRAR. Founder and Director of Lanahan Risk Management Services Ltd since 2014.