Competence is commonly regarded as the ability to perform the activities within an occupation or function to the standards expected in employment. This definition makes reference to standards. Thus, competence is equated to an ability to perform to the expected standard.

Competence is a combination of practical and thinking skills, experience and knowledge, and may include a willingness to undertake work activities in accordance with agreed standards, rules and procedures.

In the context of Major Accident Hazards (MAHs), competence is the continuing ability of individuals and teams to perform reliably the MAH elements of their roles, responsibilities and tasks, and for this to be demonstrable.

Competence assurance involves two parts:

• the process of recruitment and selection, training, development of procedures, supervision and other forms of employee assistance; and
• Competence assessment

A Competence Assurance Management System (CAMS) seeks to integrate in a logical process a number of related management activities that will assure the competence of personnel with roles and responsibilities for MAH management. Like most management systems, it involves designing, planning, implementing, monitoring and reviewing. This cyclic process should lead to continued improvement in competence.

In the context of COMAH, interventions relating to major hazard competence assurance follow the Competent Authority’s Operational Delivery Guide ‘Inspection of Competence Management Systems at COMAH Establishments’.The Health and Safety Executive carries out the intervention in two parts:

• Part A is used to give a broad overview of how the Operator is managing competence and focuses on whether key personnel are achieving the desired outcomes when undertaking critical tasks. It is used where there is direct evidence of competent people undertaking critical tasks in a competent manner, i.e. there is evidence to suggest that the Operator has an effective Competence Assurance Management System, is managing and implementing it, and it is delivering desired outcomes.

• The Part B Inspection is a more in-depth inspection of the management of competence, and is normally only undertaken when the initial Part A Inspection gives rise to concern about the way in which competence is managed. However, a Part B Inspection can also be considered at sites where, from previous regulatory activity, the Competent Authority already has significant concerns regarding the management of competence, such as during the assessment of a Safety Report. In such circumstances, it is unnecessary to undertake a Part A Inspection first.

KK Risk can provide a variety of support, ranging from a MAH Competence Assurance health check of a client’s system against the HSE’s expectations, up to the assisting with the development and implementation of a Competence Assurance Management System.