Regulation 7, UK wide
Competent Person Service
Every business needs access to competent health and safety advice. If you do not have that expertise in house, AL23 Safety can be your appointed competent person, giving you a named consultant, practical support and the confidence that your legal duties are covered. We work with businesses of every size across the UK.
What is a competent person?
The knowledge to see the risk and control it
A competent person is someone with the training, experience and knowledge to recognise the risks in your business and help you control them. They help you identify your health and safety duties, put sensible measures in place, prevent accidents and keep up with changing regulations.
How much competence is needed depends on your business. A low risk office may only need straightforward advice, while a construction site or an industrial setting calls for more specialist knowledge.
Competence scales with risk
Low risk office
Straightforward, proportionate advice.
Construction and industrial
Deeper, specialist knowledge.
The legal requirement
This is not optional
No employer is exempt. The law names the duty and expects you to meet it.
Regulation 7, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Every employer must appoint one or more competent people to help them meet their duties under health and safety law. It sits alongside your wider duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to protect your employees and anyone else affected by your work.
Inside first, outside where needed
The regulations say you should give preference to someone within your own organisation where that competence exists. Where it does not, you are expected to bring in outside help. That is where we come in.
Without competent advice, gaps go unnoticed, accidents become more likely and you are left exposed to enforcement action, fines and reputational damage. Appointing a competent person closes that gap.
Do you need external support?
A full time hire is not the only way
You do not have to employ a full time health and safety manager to meet this duty.
A full time manager
For many small and medium sized businesses that is costly and hard to justify, with a single person carrying the whole load.
An appointed competent person
Outsourcing gives you access to a higher level of expertise than you could usually employ directly, exactly when you need it and at a fraction of the cost.
What our service includes
Shaped around your business
We act as your appointed source of competent health and safety advice and shape the support around your business. Your package can include:
- A dedicated, named consultant as your main point of contact
- Permission to name AL23 Safety as your source of competent advice
- A phone and email helpline for day to day questions
- Risk assessments written, reviewed and kept up to date
- Health and safety policies and procedures written and reviewed
- Site inspections and audits
- Accident investigation and support with RIDDOR reporting
- Liaison with the HSE and local authorities on your behalf
- Support with accreditations such as CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline
- Toolbox talks and training on a range of topics
- Regular legal updates so you are never caught out by a change in the law
How it works
No standard package because no two businesses match
Some clients want a day or two on site each month. Others need deeper, more complex support.
We agree the right number of days or visits with you and work as if we were part of your team, taking the time to understand your business and your people. The support flexes as you grow.
We agree the right level
A day or two a month or deeper support. You choose the cadence with us.
We work as part of your team
We learn your business and your people, not just your paperwork.
The support flexes as you grow
Add sites, add cover. The package scales with you.
The benefits
Why businesses appoint us
Expertise on tap
Access to expertise beyond what most businesses can employ in house.
The bigger picture
A consultant who sees across your whole operation, not just one task.
Lower cost, less risk
A higher level of cover than carrying it all yourself, for far less.
Flexible and scalable
Support that grows with you and covers more than one site.
One named contact
Someone who knows your business, never a call centre.
Freedom to focus
You run your business while we handle the compliance.
Why AL23 Safety
A genuine extension of your team, not a faceless helpline
You get a named, experienced consultant who learns how your business works and gives advice that is practical and proportionate to your risks.
Because we cover health and safety, fire safety and fire engineering under one roof, you have specialist support to call on as your needs grow. We support businesses right across the UK.
Make sure your duties are covered
Talk to us about acting as your competent person
We will look at your business, your risks and the level of support you need, then put together a package that fits.
Common questions
Answers, up front
Cannot see your question? Get in touch and we will answer it directly.
Contact usA competent person is someone with the skills, knowledge and experience to help you manage health and safety properly. The law requires most employers to appoint at least one. We can act as your competent person or work alongside your in-house team.
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