It’s a question that we at PTT are often asked by students thinking of booking a course with us. So, what is ‘competence’?
The Oxford English dictionary defines competency as ‘The ability to do something successfully or efficiently.’ e.g. ‘courses to improve the competence of staff’.
So, a person deemed to be competent would require a certain set of skills. BS7671 defines a ‘Skilled Person (electrically), as a ‘person who possesses, as appropriate to the nature of the electrical work to be undertaken, adequate education, training, and practical skills, and who is able to perceive risks and avoid hazards which electricity can create.’
So, BS7671 further expands the definition of competency to include training as well as appropriate skills.
Regulation 16 of the Electricity At Work Regulations (EAWR) 1989 states ‘No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger or, where appropriate, injury, unless he possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work.’
So, the EAWR further expands competency to include the term experience.
The Health and safety Executive (HSE) describes competency as ‘the combination of training, skills, experience and knowledge that a person has and their ability to apply them to perform a task safely. Other factors, such as attitude and physical ability, can also affect someone’s competence.’
The HSE goes on to say …
‘Competence in health and safety should be seen as an important component of workplace activities, not an add-on or afterthought.’
Some health and safety law describes the training, skills and experience, that someone should have to be a competent person to perform a specific task in a particular industry or work environment.
From these various authoritative sources, we can conclude competency consists of a number of factors one of which one includes training but importantly not just training.
A term often used in industry to define competency is “KATE”. This means a person must have the required Knowledge, Ability, Training and Experience to carry out the required task.
Here at PTT, our courses provide relevant training together with basic skills but to be considered competent this training must be complemented with gaining relevant experience, and further developing your skills and abilities. The requisite level of skills and experience can only be developed over time and in the workplace.
So, when we at PTT are asked “Will I be competent by taking this course?” Our answer is no! for the reasons stated above. No training course on its own can or should claim to guarantee competency but training remains an important and necessary element of competency.
