A new document has been issued by the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) with advice on how organisations can effectively manage the competence of those working for them.
Detailing core principles that can be applied across all organisations, the industry guidance document, Setting Expectations on Competence Management, explains what organisations should do to meet the competence management aspects and requirements of Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 and The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023.
With emphasis on having clear and appropriate policies and processes in place, the guidance has been designed to “help organisations understand the appropriate expectations for competence management activities and assess what they should do to update their current working practices to ensure they are meeting legal requirements”.
To meet the regulatory requirements, an organisation must manage the competence of individuals working under its control. This includes individuals who are carrying out design or building work, or manage building safety risks in occupation, particularly for higher-risk buildings (HRBs). Organisations must ensure that such individuals have the “skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours [SKEB] necessary to fulfil the duties of a contractor or designer under these Regulations in relation to the work”.
In addition to having the necessary SKEB for their roles, individuals should be able to work within a framework that defines roles and responsibilities, do not perform tasks beyond their competence (unless under supervision), and are supported in undertaking the necessary training to maintain and develop their competence.
Part of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), the ICC’s industry guidance document was developed by an Industry Task and Finish Group (ITFG), involving a 50-strong cross-sector collaboration of professional bodies, regulators, and sector organisations. It includes examples and case studies demonstrating real-world use and sets out how the ICC principles can be applied in practice across different types and sizes of organisations.
“The document should be viewed as a starting point for organisations to better understand what they need to do,” the ICC states.
The advice is available on the BSI Competence Hub here.
