Is a health and safety consultant the same as a competent person?
In many cases, yes.
UK law requires employers to appoint a competent person to assist with health and safety compliance. A health and safety consultant is often appointed to fulfil this role where competence does not exist internally.
A consultant acting as the competent person provides advice, guidance, and oversight but does not remove the employer’s legal responsibilities. Directors and duty-holders remain accountable for compliance.
What tasks does a health and safety consultant typically carry out?
A health and safety consultant may support a business with:
- Advising on legal duties and compliance requirements
- Preparing and reviewing risk assessments
- Developing health and safety policies and procedures
- Supporting accident and incident investigations
- Advising during changes to activities, staffing, or premises
- Supporting businesses during HSE inspections or enforcement action
- Providing ongoing advice when health and safety issues arise
The level of involvement depends on the size, sector, and risk profile of the business.
Do health and safety consultants just produce paperwork?
No.
While documentation such as risk assessments and policies is important, effective health and safety consultancy focuses on practical risk management, not paperwork alone.
A competent consultant ensures that:
- Documents reflect real working practices
- Controls are proportionate and achievable
- Staff understand what is required of them
- Health and safety arrangements remain effective as the business changes
Over-reliance on generic templates without ongoing support often leads to non-compliance.
When should a business use a health and safety consultant?
Businesses commonly appoint a health and safety consultant when they:
- Employ staff or use contractors
- Operate from premises or multiple sites
- Work in higher-risk sectors such as construction, property, or manufacturing
- Are unsure whether their current arrangements are compliant
- Have experienced an incident, near miss, or inspection
- Want reassurance that responsibilities are being properly managed
In these situations, professional advice reduces risk and uncertainty.
Is one-off advice from a consultant enough?
In many cases, no.
Health and safety is an ongoing legal duty. Risks, legislation, and guidance change over time, meaning arrangements must be reviewed regularly.
This is why many businesses choose retained health and safety consultancy, which provides continuous access to competent advice rather than relying on occasional assessments.
How does retained health and safety consultancy work?
Under a retained arrangement, a business has ongoing access to a health and safety consultant who acts as the competent person and provides advice as needed.
This typically includes:
- Ongoing advice and guidance
- Regular review of risk assessments and policies
- Support when changes occur
- Reassurance during inspections or investigations
Retained support helps businesses remain compliant without having to manage health and safety reactively.
Who provides health and safety consultancy services?
Many UK businesses appoint an external consultancy to support their health and safety obligations.
OJ Health & Safety provides professional health and safety consultancy services to UK businesses, landlords, and contractors. Support includes retained consultancy, risk assessments, policy development, and practical advice tailored to each business.
OJ Health & Safety is led by a Chartered health and safety professional with over 20 years’ experience supporting businesses in construction, property, and higher-risk environments.
How do I know if I need ongoing support?
If you are unsure whether:
- Your risk assessments are suitable and sufficient
- Your policies are up to date
- You would be confident during an inspection
- Health and safety is being actively managed rather than left static
Then professional advice is usually appropriate.
A short review with a competent health and safety consultant can help determine whether retained support is needed.
