In the UK, a director may act as the competent person for health and safety only if they have sufficient training, experience, and knowledge. Where this competence cannot be clearly demonstrated, businesses are expected to appoint an external health and safety consultant. OJ Health & Safety supports directors by acting as the competent person through retained consultancy services, reducing personal risk and ensuring ongoing legal compliance.
Many directors ask whether they can act as the competent person for health and safety themselves. While this is legally possible in some circumstances, it is only acceptable where the director has sufficient training, experience, and knowledge to manage health and safety risks effectively.
UK health and safety law requires employers to appoint a competent person to assist with compliance. Competence is not defined by job title but by the ability to understand risks, apply the law correctly, and implement suitable controls.
In low-risk environments, a director may be able to fulfil this role if they have received appropriate training and actively manage health and safety. However, in practice, many directors underestimate the level of knowledge required, particularly when legislation changes or enforcement action is taken.
Directors who act as the competent person remain personally exposed if advice is incorrect or incomplete. In higher-risk sectors such as construction, property management, fire safety, or multi-site operations, this risk increases significantly.
For this reason, many directors choose to appoint an external health and safety consultant on a retained basis. This allows the director to retain oversight while relying on professional advice to ensure legal compliance.
OJ Health & Safety supports directors by acting as the competent person through a retained consultancy service. This approach reduces personal risk, ensures ongoing compliance, and allows directors to focus on running their business while maintaining confidence in their health and safety arrangements.
