What qualifications should an outsourced competent person have?

There are no legally prescribed qualifications for an outsourced competent person. However, they should have the skills, training, knowledge, and practical experience to help you meet your legal health and safety duties.

Relevant credentials may include NEBOSH diplomas, professional membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), and a commitment to continuing professional development (CPD).

What does a competent person do?

All businesses have a legal duty to have access to a “competent person”. Outsourcing this can assist you in meeting this (and other) legal health and safety duties. Their guidance helps you comply with current health and safety legislation, identify risks across your business, and implement controls to create a safer working environment.

A competent person’s responsibilities include:

• Identifying and assessing workplace risks
• Recommending targeted controls
• Advising on legislative changes
• Tracking workplace accidents and illnesses
• Reviewing policies and procedures
• Liaising with safety regulators (HSE and local authorities)
• Supporting accident and incident investigations
• Overseeing safety training

Can anyone act as a competent person?

Not everyone can act as a competent person. A competent person must have the required skills, knowledge, experience, and training to help your organisation comply with UK health and safety law. This can be the business owner, an employee, or an external health and safety consultant, provided they have the necessary competence for your business.

Whoever you appoint must be able to provide effective health and safety advice that’s appropriate to the risks in your organisation. For example, a competent person for a high-risk manufacturing operation will need more specialised safety expertise than someone in a lower-risk office environment.

When choosing your competent person, you should consider their:

• Relevant health and safety qualifications
• Practical industry experience
• Knowledge of current health and safety legislation
• Commitment to continuing professional development (CPD)
• Specialist training for high-risk sectors, such as construction, civil engineering, and electrical trades

Importantly, appointing an external competent person doesn’t transfer your legal responsibilities. Even in an outsourced partnership, you remain liable for meeting your health and safety duties under UK law.

Should an outsourced competent person have IOSH membership?

Ideally, yes. Membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) isn’t a legal requirement for an outsourced competent person. However, it demonstrates a clear commitment to professional standards and industry best practice. Members are expected to uphold IOSH’s Code of Conduct and maintain their competence through continuing professional development (CPD).

IOSH membership grades reflect experience, qualifications, and commitment to occupational safety and health. An external competent person may hold:

• Technical (TechIOSH) – Recognises health and safety professionals who have demonstrated technical competence through appropriate qualifications and experience.
• Certified (CertIOSH) – Recognises professionals with a higher level of knowledge and competence, supported by recognised qualifications, CPD, and professional experience.
• Chartered (CMIOSH) – Recognises experienced professionals who have demonstrated competence and a commitment to continuing professional development.

While IOSH membership shouldn't be your only factor when choosing an outsourced competent person, it can be a useful indicator of integrity and professionalism. You should also consider qualifications, practical experience, sector expertise, and client references.

Does an external competent person need a NEBOSH qualification?

No, not necessarily. National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) qualifications aren’t required by law for external competent persons, but they show that your consultant has earned a recognised, accredited health and safety qualification.

NEBOSH qualifications develop knowledge of workplace risk management and health and safety legislation. They can provide reassurance that your consultant has a strong technical foundation, although practical experience and relevant industry expertise are equally important when appointing an external competent person.

Relevant NEBOSH qualifications may include:

• NEBOSH Level 6 National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals
• NEBOSH Level 6 International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals
• Specialist NEBOSH qualifications, such as Construction Safety, Fire Safety, and Risk Management, where appropriate

Other relevant qualifications could include university degrees or post-graduate diplomas in occupational health and safety.

Do outsourced competent persons need sector-specific experience?

No, they do not. Sector-specific experience isn't a legal requirement for an outsourced competent person, but it’s an important consideration when selecting one. A consultant with practical knowledge of your industry’s unique hazards, regulatory requirements, and operational pressures is better placed to provide tailored, effective health and safety guidance.

Your competent person should have the knowledge, skills, training, and experience appropriate to the risk level in your business. The greater the risk and complexity of the work, the greater the level of competence and specialist expertise likely to be required.

Specialist training and qualifications for high-risk sectors might include:

• Construction – Working at height, temporary works, excavation, lifting operations, and site safety.
• Manufacturing – Machinery safety, hazardous substances, isolation procedures, and process risk management.
• Engineering and utilities – Electrical safety, confined spaces, pressure systems, and permit-to-work systems.
• Healthcare – Infection prevention, manual handling, hazardous substances, clinical workplace risks.
• Education – Safeguarding, educational visits, premises safety, and contractor management.
• Logistics and warehousing – Workplace transport, forklift operations, manual handling, and storage systems.
• Fire safety – Fire risk assessment, evacuation planning, and fire safety management.
• Asbestos management – Survey interpretation, asbestos regulations, and safe management procedures.

How do you choose the right external competent person?

Choose an external competent person based on more than qualifications alone. Consider their practical experience, sector knowledge, professional credentials, customer reviews, and whether they’re a good cultural fit for your business. Look for evidence that they've supported organisations with similar operations, hazards, and compliance requirements to your own.

Competence is a combination of technical knowledge, hands-on experience, and the ability to provide effective, commercially sound health and safety advice. These key questions can help you choose the right provider for your business:

• Does the outsourced competent person have the knowledge, skills, training, and experience to identify and control risks across your business?
• Have they managed health and safety in an environment with similar risk levels?
• Can they save you time and resources by undertaking document writing and design, regular compliance reviews, and safety training?
• Will they take the time to understand your organisation, consult with your employees, and act as an extension of your team?
• Are their services flexible and scalable to grow with your business?
• Can they offer additional support via digital compliance tools, staff training, occupational health and HR services?

At Opus Safety, we provide tailored competent person services to help you achieve consistent compliance. Founded by former health and safety inspectors and Environmental Health Officers, we understand what triggers enforcement action and create targeted compliance programmes that cut costs, reduce workplace accidents, and build stronger safety cultures.

If you’re looking for proven competent person support, talk through your safety challenges with one of our experienced consultants on 0330 043 4015 or email hello@opus-safety.co.uk.