Our technicians are trained to be competent persons per the ANSI standards.
š What Is a “Competent Person”?
In safety and facility management contexts, a ācompetent personā is someone who has:
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Sufficient training, knowledge, and experience
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The authority to identify hazards
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The ability to take prompt corrective actions
š What Are ANSI Standards?
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) is an organization that oversees the creation and use of standards for safety, quality, and performance across many industries in the U.S.
When a standard refers to a ācompetent person,ā it means someone who meets specific qualifications defined by that standard. ANSI standards provide detailed guidance on what qualifies someone as competent for different roles or tasks.
For example:
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ANSI A92 defines competent persons for aerial lift safety
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ANSI Z359 outlines competent persons for fall protection systems
š§ Why It Matters
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Safety Compliance
Following ANSI standards ensures your organization is meeting national safety guidelinesāhelping prevent accidents, injuries, and fines. -
Legal Protection
Designating and training competent persons demonstrates that youāve taken proper steps to ensure workplace safety, which can be critical if an incident occurs. -
Operational Efficiency
Competent persons can quickly identify risks and take corrective actions, reducing downtime and keeping your operations smooth. -
Credibility and Trust
Having trained competent persons shows clients, partners, and inspectors that your facility prioritizes safety, professionalism, and accountability.
ā Ā What Is a Competent Person According to ANSI?
A “competent person,” as defined by ANSI standards, is someone with the knowledge, experience, and authority to recognize hazards and take immediate action to correct them. Having competent persons on-site is not just best practiceāitās critical for safety, compliance, and operational reliability.
Read More: Fall Protection at iFacility Services
“All fall protection should be inspected at least annually and sometimes more frequently depending on manufacturer recommendation”
Our service technicians are trained to perform all of the services we offer, and they can combine additional services with your fall protection inspection for efficiency. For fall protection service in particular, our technicians are trained to be competent persons per the ANSI standards. They can inspect lanyards, harnesses, winches and tripods.
All fall protection should be inspected at least annually and sometimes more frequently depending on manufacturer recommendation. The many parts of a fall protection system, in particular lanyards and harnesses, can have an expiration date, a use-by date, again dependent on the manufacturer.
So in addition to annual or more frequent inspections, some fall protection needs to be taken out of service after a certain amount of time. The record keeping for these inspections is important. OSHA, if they do an inspection or respond to an accident, will request fall protection service records. Our technicians generate reports that comply with ANSI standards.
Fall protection testing is a critical process that ensures the reliability and safety of equipment used to prevent workplace falls. This testing involves inspecting and verifying the performance of harnesses, lifelines, anchors, and other fall protection systems to confirm they meet industry standards and manufacturer specifications. Regular fall protection testing helps identify wear, damage, or degradation that could compromise worker safety, ensuring that all equipment remains in proper working condition. By maintaining a consistent testing schedule, companies can reduce risk, stay compliant, and protect their employees from serious fall-related injuries. Contact iFacility Services to schedule your fall protection equipment inspection now!
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