What responsibilities come with working in confined spaces and on scaffolds? Learn more about OSHA's definition of the duties of a competent person.

1. RESPONSIBILITIES
OF A COMPET ENT
PERSON IN
SCAFFOLDING AND
CONFINED SPACE
OPERATIONS

2. In the world of safety and health,
a “competent person” is
designated to ensure the well-
being of employees and workers.
OSHA defines a competent
person as, “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 the authorization to take
prompt corrective measures to
eliminate them” (29 CFR 1926.450).

3. The Role of the Competent Person
in Scaffolding Operations
• Training employees working on scaffolding to
recognize hazards associated with tasks such as
erecting, dismantling, moving, adjusting, and
inspecting scaffolds.
• Determining the safety of employees working on
scaffolds during unfavorable weather conditions
such as strong winds, storms, or heavy snowfall.
• Ensuring employees working on scaffolding have
access to a personal fall arrest system or wind
screens during bad weather.
• Making sure the scaffolds’ structural integrity is
maintained when components from different
manufacturers are used together.
• Determining whether galvanic action has affected
the capacity of scaffolds when components made
from different metals are used together.

4. Role of the Competent Person in
Scaffolding Operations
Training employees working on scaffolding to recognize hazards associated with tasks such as
erecting, dismantling, moving, adjusting, and inspecting scaffolds.
Determining the safety of employees working on scaffolds during unfavorable weather
conditions such as strong winds, storms, or heavy snowfall.
Ensuring employees working on scaffolding have access to a personal fall arrest system or
wind screens during bad weather.
Making sure the scaffolds’ structural integrity is maintained when components from different
manufacturers are used together.
Determining whether galvanic action has affected the capacity of scaffolds when components
made from different metals are used together.

5. Worker Training
When Working in
and Around
Scaffolds
Enroll employees in
our OSHA Scaffolding
Safety Training course
to ensure their safety
when working at
heights!

6. What is a Confined
Space?
According to OSHA’s Confined Spaces
Standard, a confined space is defined
as a space that.
 Is large enough and so configured
that an employee can bodily enter it,
 Has limited or restricted means for
entry and exit, and
 Is not designed for continuous
employee occupancy.

7. Responsibilities of a Competent
Person in Confined Spaces
Identify all confined spaces in which one or more employees may be
assigned work before work begins at a worksite.
Determine which of these confined spaces should be designed as a
permit-required confined space through evaluation and testing to
determine the specific safety and health hazards.
Also decide which of the confined spaces workers may enter to
perform work activities.

8. Permit Required Confined Space
Read the article titled ‘Confined Space Protective Measures’ to learn more

9. Worker Training for
Confined Spaces
Our OSHA Confined Space
Awareness Training
course is designed for
employees working in and
around confined spaces,
including, authorized
entrants, safety attendants,
entry supervisors, and
emergency response
personnel.

10. Contact
Us!
1-866-429-6742
info@HAZWOPER-OSHA.com
https://hazwoper-osha.com/
11901 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite # 414 Los Angeles,
CA 90025
Safety
Matters!

11. References
• OSHA. (n.d.). Confined Spaces in Construction Standard - 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA. 1926.1202 - Definitions. Website.
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1202
• OSHA. (n.d.). Scaffolding Standard for the Construction Industry - 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L. 1926.450 - Scope, application, and
definitions applicable to this subpart. Website. https://www.osha.gov/laws-
regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.450