Roles and Responsibilities: Competent Person, Authorised Person, Standby Person, Entry Supervisor, Contractor Coordination
This domain tests who does what. Confusion between roles is a recurring cause of failed controls, especially on sites with several contractors.
The roles
- Proprietor or contractor - provides the system, resources, competent persons, equipment and training, and ensures coordination. Must not pressure workers to cut corners.
- Competent person - trained, experienced and certified; conducts the risk assessment, specifies controls, tests the atmosphere and certifies the space as safe for entry. Should be independent of production pressure and should not be the sole entrant.
- Certified worker - has completed recognised training; understands the hazards, follows the permit, uses PPE, reports defects and stops work if conditions change.
- Standby person or attendant - remains outside, keeps the entry log, maintains communication, operates rescue equipment and controls access. Does not enter except as part of a properly equipped rescue.
- Entry supervisor - controls the permit, verifies isolation and testing, briefs the team, authorises entry and closes the permit. Where several contractors work in one space, one person should own the permit.
- Authorised person - the individual named by the proprietor or contractor as permitted to enter or supervise; the authorisation must be specific, not "anyone on site".
- Safety adviser or officer - advises and audits but does not take over line responsibility.
Contractor coordination
The proprietor must ensure that all contractors' risk assessments are compatible, that information on hazards and emergency arrangements is shared, and that there is a single point of control for the permit. Conflicting work must be sequenced: hot work near a vent, nitrogen purging near an entry point, or vehicles near an access route are classic conflicts. Joint drills and a common communication channel help.
Worked example
A tank is being cleaned by contractor A while contractor B plans hot work on an adjacent line. The coordination meeting identifies that the tank is being purged with nitrogen venting near B's work area, and that B's hot work could ignite solvent vapour from A's cleaning. The work is sequenced, the vent is relocated, and a single permit issuer controls both jobs.
Traps that cost marks
- Making the standby person also an entrant.
- Appointing a competent person who is the only entrant.
- Unclear ownership of the permit between contractors.
- Assuming the contractor's assessment covers host-site hazards.
- Letting a supervisor who is not on site sign permits.