What is Competence?
Competence (or competency) is the ability of an individual to perform a job properly, of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually to carry out specific tasks.
What are an employers responsibilities regarding employee competence?
It is a legal requirement that anyone carrying out construction work must be competent to carry out their tasks safely. This means anyone using plant or equipment, working at height or in any hazardous situation, should be trained before they start work.
An employer has a duty to ensure that any person who carries out a task, as part of their employment is competent. Whilst that person is in training, a competent person must supervise the individual until they are able to safely carry out that task.
If you are engaging a person or organisation to carry out construction work for you, then you need to make a reasonable judgement of their competence based on evidence. The evidence will usually be supplied to you by the person or organisation quoting or bidding for the work.
What is the benefit of competence in construction?
Ultimately competency means being able to work safely, to legislation and without risk to others. This benefits not only the individuals carrying out the work but has much wider benefits for a company as a whole. Obviously fulfilling your duty to ensure that all employees are competent reduces the risk of any legal matters following an accident, however ensuring all employees achieve competency can help your bottom line too.
An employee who is actively competent in their task will complete a project with less errors, resulting in lower damage charges incurred form your supplier. A competent employee will facilitate the smoother completion of a project, reduced down time means a more cost effective project and perhaps allowing you to take on a larger number or projects too.
How do you achieve competency?
Competence, especially in construction is a learnt quality, no one turns up on site their first time and knows how to perform every task safely and correctly.
A person only develops in competence through a mix of training and experience, For a person to be competent they need, qualifications, experience and qualities suited to the tasks.
There are plenty of companies out there who will train your employees to become competent in their tasks. Mabey Hire Services are among them, and our training is FREE. http://www.mhsacademy.com/
Other places to look for courses include http://www.cskills.org
If you are engaging a person or organisation to carry out construction work for you, then you need to make a reasonable judgement of their competence based on evidence. The evidence will usually be supplied to you by the person or organisation quoting or bidding for the work.
What is the benefit of competence in construction?
Ultimately competency means being able to work safely, to legislation and without risk to others. This benefits not only the individuals carrying out the work but has much wider benefits for a company as a whole. Obviously fulfilling your duty to ensure that all employees are competent reduces the risk of any legal matters following an accident, however ensuring all employees achieve competency can help your bottom line too.
An employee who is actively competent in their task will complete a project with less errors, resulting in lower damage charges incurred form your supplier. A competent employee will facilitate the smoother completion of a project, reduced down time means a more cost effective project and perhaps allowing you to take on a larger number or projects too.
How do you achieve competency?
Competence, especially in construction is a learnt quality, no one turns up on site their first time and knows how to perform every task safely and correctly.
A person only develops in competence through a mix of training and experience, For a person to be competent they need, qualifications, experience and qualities suited to the tasks.
There are plenty of companies out there who will train your employees to become competent in their tasks. Mabey Hire Services are among them, and our training is FREE. http://www.mhsacademy.com/
Other places to look for courses include http://www.cskills.org
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