The Occupational Safety Leadership Podcast Episode 263 - Task Competency and Occupational Safety
In this episode, Dr. Ayers tackles a fundamental question every safety leader faces: When is a new hire truly competent to work on their own? He explains that competency is more than passing a written test—it requires demonstrated, hands‑on ability.
🔑 Key Points-
Competency is not just knowledge. A written or online test only shows someone understands the concepts, not that they can perform the task safely in real conditions.
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Hands‑on demonstration is essential. Leaders must verify that employees can actually execute the task correctly before allowing independent work.
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Rushing the process creates risk. Allowing a new hire to operate alone too soon increases the likelihood of errors and injuries.
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Competency is task‑specific. Being skilled in one area doesn’t automatically translate to another—each task requires its own validation.
A safety leader’s responsibility is to ensure capability, not assume it. Competency must be proven, not presumed.