Businesses Face Increasing Pressure to Demonstrate Workforce Competence as Safety Expectations Rise

Businesses are being encouraged to take a more structured approach to workforce competence as regulators and industry bodies highlight the growing link between inadequate training, poor supervision and workplace incidents.

Health and safety professionals say that while most organisations provide some form of induction and job-specific training, many struggle to demonstrate that employees remain competent as roles, equipment and working practices evolve.

Recent industry reviews have identified recurring concerns around refresher training, competency assessments and the management of temporary or agency workers. Safety advisers say organisations often assume that experience alone is sufficient evidence of competence, despite changes in legislation, technology and operational procedures that may introduce new risks over time.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive said competence should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-off achievement. “Employers should ensure that workers have the necessary knowledge, skills, experience and supervision to carry out their work safely. Competence should be reviewed whenever work activities, equipment or responsibilities change.”

Health and safety consultants report that businesses frequently encounter competence gaps following periods of growth, restructuring or recruitment. New employees may receive initial training but limited follow-up, while experienced staff are often expected to adapt to revised procedures without formal assessment.

“Competence is not simply about attending a training course,” said Alison Grant, a health and safety consultant specialising in organisational performance. “It is about being able to apply knowledge consistently in the workplace. Businesses need evidence that people can perform their duties safely, not just certificates showing they attended training.”

The challenge has become more pronounced as organisations introduce new technologies and automated equipment. While investment in modern systems can improve productivity, safety professionals say businesses sometimes underestimate the additional training and supervision required to ensure employees understand new operating methods.

Auditors have also identified weaknesses in contractor and agency worker competence management. Organisations may verify qualifications before work begins but fail to monitor ongoing performance or assess whether workers remain suitable for changing tasks and environments.

Industry bodies say the issue extends beyond operational roles. Supervisors and managers are increasingly expected to demonstrate competence in areas such as risk assessment, incident investigation, emergency response and leadership of safety culture. As responsibilities expand, organisations are finding that technical expertise alone may not be enough to manage health and safety effectively.

Some businesses have responded by introducing competency matrices, structured refresher programmes and practical workplace assessments alongside traditional classroom training. Others are linking competence reviews to performance appraisals and internal audits to provide greater assurance that safety-critical roles remain adequately supported.

Grant believes the focus on competence reflects a wider shift in occupational safety. “Businesses are moving away from measuring training activity towards measuring capability. The question is no longer ‘Has this person been trained?’ but ‘Can they demonstrate they are competent to perform the task safely today?’”

As organisations continue to adapt to changing technologies, workforce demographics and regulatory expectations, competence management is expected to become an increasingly important aspect of health and safety governance. For businesses operating under ISO 45001, maintaining evidence of workforce competence, evaluating its effectiveness and ensuring employees remain capable of carrying out their roles safely is becoming a key indicator of a mature and effective occupational health and safety management system.

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