Safety Trained Supervisor in Construction (STSC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free STSC Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term "competent person" in OSHA standards specifically refers to an individual who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surrounding or working conditions. This person must have the authority to take appropriate measures to eliminate or control those hazards. The emphasis is on the ability to recognize hazards and effectively address them, ensuring a safe working environment.

In contrast, simply having management authority, being a certified safety trainer, or having less than one year of experience does not inherently qualify someone as a competent person. Management authority may not equate to practical knowledge of hazards; a certified trainer might have knowledge, but may not possess the capability to act on that knowledge in a specific work environment; and a novice worker, irrespective of their willingness or training, does not yet have the experience or insight to effectively identify or resolve safety issues. Thus, the definition focuses on the practical ability and authority to manage hazards, which is why the identification and correction of hazards is integral to the definition of a competent person.