{"id":6523,"date":"2026-10-15T23:24:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T03:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/?page_id=6523"},"modified":"2026-10-15T23:24:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T03:24:27","slug":"osha-competent-person","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/osha-competent-person\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is an OSHA Competent Person?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>@font-face{font-family:Barlow;src:url(https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/blackbelt-platform-v2\/assets\/fonts\/barlow-400-latin.woff2) format(\"woff2\");font-weight:400;font-display:swap}\n@font-face{font-family:\"Barlow Condensed\";src:url(https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/blackbelt-platform-v2\/assets\/fonts\/barlow-condensed-800-latin.woff2) format(\"woff2\");font-weight:800;font-display:swap}\n.post-6523 .post-thumbnail,.post-6523 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.btn{margin-top:auto;align-self:flex-start}\n.bbs-cp .tag{display:inline-block;background:var(--y);color:var(--ink);font-weight:700;font-size:13px;padding:2px 10px;border-radius:99px;align-self:flex-start}\n.bbs-cp .steps{counter-reset:s;display:grid;gap:16px;margin-top:20px}.bbs-cp .step{display:flex;gap:16px;align-items:flex-start}\n.bbs-cp .step::before{counter-increment:s;content:counter(s);flex:0 0 44px;height:44px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--ink);color:var(--y);font:800 22px \"Barlow Condensed\",sans-serif;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center}\n.bbs-cp .note{margin-top:16px;font-weight:700}\n.bbs-cp .cta{background:var(--dark);color:#fff;text-align:center}.bbs-cp .cta .in{display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;gap:16px}.bbs-cp .cta p{color:var(--soft);max-width:640px}\n.bbs-cp details{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:8px;padding:14px 18px;margin-top:10px;background:#fff}.bbs-cp summary{font-weight:700;cursor:pointer}.bbs-cp details p{margin-top:8px;color:var(--mute)}\n.bbs-cp .src{font-size:14px;color:var(--mute);margin-top:20px}.bbs-cp .src a,.bbs-cp blockquote a,.bbs-cp .lk{text-decoration:underline}\n@media(min-width:768px){.bbs-cp .in{padding:64px 24px}.bbs-cp h1{font-size:58px}.bbs-cp h2{font-size:42px}.bbs-cp .hero .in{grid-template-columns:1.1fr 1fr;gap:48px}.bbs-cp .g4{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,1fr)}.bbs-cp .g3{grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr)}}\n@media(min-width:1024px){.bbs-cp .g4{grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr)}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"bbs-cp\">\n<section class=\"hero\"><div class=\"in\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<span class=\"eyebrow\">OSHA Competent Person Training<\/span>\n<h1>What Is an OSHA Competent Person?<\/h1>\n<p class=\"lead\">An <strong>OSHA competent person<\/strong> is the worker who keeps the job site safe. They <strong>spot danger before someone gets hurt<\/strong>, and they have the <strong>power to fix it right away<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ctas\"><a class=\"btn btn-y\" href=\"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/membership-levels\/\">Start Training for $19\/month<\/a><a class=\"btn btn-w\" href=\"#cp-courses\">See the Courses<\/a><\/div>\n<ul class=\"proof\"><li>Learn online, at your own speed<\/li><li>Built from real OSHA rules<\/li><li>Every course included in The Dojo<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<figure><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/osha-competent-person-trench-box-1024x822.jpg\" alt=\"OSHA competent person guiding a trench box into a trench on a construction site\" width=\"1024\" height=\"822\" loading=\"eager\"><figcaption>Photo: NIOSH, public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"panel\"><div class=\"in\">\n<h2>What OSHA Says<\/h2>\n<p>OSHA defines a competent person in <a class=\"lk\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/laws-regs\/regulations\/standardnumber\/1926\/1926.32\">29 CFR 1926.32(f)<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>&#8220;One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.&#8221;<cite>\u2014 OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.32(f)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"note\">In plain words: you see the danger, and you have the power to stop it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section><div class=\"in\">\n<h2>Why Being the Competent Person Pays Off<\/h2>\n<p>When you are trained to be the competent person, you become someone every crew needs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"grid g4\">\n<div class=\"card\"><span class=\"ic\">\ud83e\uddba<\/span><h3>Every Site Needs One<\/h3><p>OSHA rules for trenches, scaffolds and fall protection need a competent person on the job. Someone has to fill that spot. It can be you.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><span class=\"ic\">\ud83d\udddd\ufe0f<\/span><h3>You Become the Go-To Person<\/h3><p>The boss trusts you to check the site and stop unsafe work. That trust makes you hard to replace.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><span class=\"ic\">\ud83d\udcc8<\/span><h3>Move Up in Your Career<\/h3><p>Knowing how to find hazards is the first step to lead, foreman and safety jobs.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><span class=\"ic\">\u2764\ufe0f<\/span><h3>You Send Your Crew Home Safe<\/h3><p>OSHA says one cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car. Knowing the signs before a trench caves in saves lives.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"panel\" id=\"cp-courses\"><div class=\"in\">\n<h2>Competent Person Training Courses<\/h2>\n<p>Pick the job you do. Each course teaches you what to look for and how to fix it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"grid g3\">\n<div class=\"card\"><span class=\"tag\">Trenches &amp; Digging<\/span><h3>Excavation Competent Person<\/h3><p>Soil types, cave-in signs, protective systems and daily trench checks.<\/p><a class=\"btn btn-k\" href=\"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/course\/excavation-competent-person-trenching-and-excavation\/\">View Course<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><span class=\"tag\">Scaffolds<\/span><h3>Scaffold Competent Person<\/h3><p>Safe scaffold setup, inspections, and when to stop work.<\/p><a class=\"btn btn-k\" href=\"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/course\/scaffold-competent-person-construction\/\">View Course<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"card\"><span class=\"tag\">Working Up High<\/span><h3>Fall Protection Competent Person<\/h3><p>Fall hazards, harness and anchor checks, and keeping workers tied off.<\/p><a class=\"btn btn-k\" href=\"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/course\/fall-protection-for-competent-persons-awareness-construction\/\">View Course<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section><div class=\"in\">\n<h2>How Do You Become a Competent Person?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"steps\">\n<div class=\"step\"><div><h3>Learn the Hazards<\/h3><p>Take competent person training so you know what to look for.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"step\"><div><h3>Get the Power to Act<\/h3><p>Your boss names you the competent person and lets you stop unsafe work.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"note\">Training gives you the know-how. Your boss gives you the power. You need both.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section class=\"cta\"><div class=\"in\">\n<h2>Be the One the Crew Counts On<\/h2>\n<p>Get every competent person course, plus the full Black Belt Safety course library, in The Dojo.<\/p>\n<a class=\"btn btn-y\" href=\"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/membership-levels\/\">Start Training for $19\/month<\/a>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<section><div class=\"in\">\n<h2>Competent Person FAQ<\/h2>\n<details><summary>What does an OSHA competent person do?<\/summary><p>They check the job site, find dangers, and fix them fast to keep workers safe.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>Is a competent person the same as a qualified person?<\/summary><p>No. A competent person finds hazards and has the power to fix them. A qualified person has a degree, license or deep skill to solve a problem.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>Does a training card make me a competent person?<\/summary><p>No. Training teaches you the skills, but your employer must name you the competent person.<\/p><\/details>\n<details><summary>Can I take competent person training online?<\/summary><p>Yes. Black Belt Safety courses are online, so you can learn anywhere, at your own speed.<\/p><\/details>\n<p class=\"src\">Sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/competent-person\">OSHA Competent Person<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/trenching-excavation\">OSHA Trenching and Excavation<\/a> \u00b7 Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Trench_safety_-_guiding_the_trench_box_(9250664732).jpg\">NIOSH, public domain<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What does an OSHA competent person do?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"They check the job site, find dangers, and fix them fast to keep workers safe.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is a competent person the same as a qualified person?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. A competent person finds hazards and has the power to fix them. 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See which jobs need one and start competent person training online today.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6538,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","elearning_container_layout":"tg-site-layout--default","elearning_sidebar_layout":"tg-site-layout--default","elearning_remove_content_margin":false,"elearning_sidebar":"default","elearning_transparent_header":"customizer","elearning_logo":0,"elearning_header_style":"default","elearning_menu_item_color":"","elearning_menu_item_hover_color":"","elearning_menu_item_active_color":"","elearning_menu_item_active_style":"","elearning_page_header":true,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6523","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6523"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6539,"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6523\/revisions\/6539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackbeltsafety.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}