Before work begins, what is the responsibility of the competent person?

The responsibility of a competent person in the context of confined spaces is to identify all confined spaces where employees may work. This identification is crucial because confined spaces can present various hazards that need to be assessed and mitigated before any work can commence. By recognizing and assessing these spaces, the competent person ensures that appropriate safety measures are implemented to protect workers from potential risks, such as toxic atmospheres, limited means of entry and exit, or physical hazards present within the confined space. This proactive measure is essential for setting up a safe work environment and is one of the foundational steps in confined space safety protocol.

Other roles, such as conducting the work themselves, providing training, or issuing work permits, have their importance, but they do not specifically focus on the essential initial step of identifying confined spaces, which is a fundamental responsibility of the competent person.