Competencies for the Competent Person: Defining Workplace Examiner Competencies from the Health and Safety Leader’s Perspective

• Published in: Mining, metallurgy & exploration metallurgy & exploration, 2020-12, Vol.37 (6), p.1951-1959
• Main Authors: Hrica, Jonathan K., Eiter, Brianna M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Engineering; Materials Engineering; Metallic Materials; Mineral Resources
• ISSN: 2524-3462; 2524-3470
• DOI: 10.1007/s42461-020-00275-w

The ability to identify hazards during a workplace examination is a critical skill for mineworkers to have in order to maintain a safe workplace. While research suggests that being able to successfully recognize hazards requires a complex set of competencies, it is unclear which competencies are most critical to adequately perform a workplace examination. This paper presents a hazard recognition competencies framework as an explanation of the competencies that affect mineworker hazard recognition. To better understand how the industry is selecting and preparing workplace examiners, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) interviewed nine health and safety (H&S) professionals at surface stone, sand, and gravel mine sites throughout the USA. A primary purpose of these interviews was to verify the competencies included in the hazard recognition competencies framework and to understand why these competencies are critical. Finally, the results of this study are presented within the context of current NIOSH research findings related to hazard recognition.