Who is considered a Competent Person for Practical Training?
There are a number of courses available online that state there is a “practical” portion to be completed alongside a competent person once the theory component is complete. A competent person is someone who is knowledgable about, and comfortable performing, the operations on equipment and machinery they are training the individual on. More specifically, in Ontario, a competent individual must meet the three standards listed below.
- (a) is competent because of knowledge, training, and experience to organize the work and its performance,
- (b) is familiar with this Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
- (c) has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace
The Canadian Labour Code (CLC) defines a competent person as.
- A qualified person means, in respect of a specified duty, a person who, because of their knowledge, training and experience, is qualified to perform that duty safely and properly.
*While a supervisor may have had a role in organizing the work, he or she may not necessarily be competent to carry out the specific task or tasks.
For courses such as Online Fall Protection, Elevating Work Platforms, and Forklift Operator Safety, a competent person is required to conduct practical training with the trainee, after completing the online theory portion of the course, to fully satisfy training requirements.
The competent person will sign off on the back of the trainee’s certificate, indicating the practical portion of the training has been completed by a competent individual. Practical training is essential to ensure training concepts have been fully grasped, and the trainee has shown to be competent in the work.