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.
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.
Hands‑on demonstration is essential. Leaders must verify that employees can actually execute the task correctly before allowing independent work.
Rushing the process creates risk. Allowing a new hire to operate alone too soon increases the likelihood of errors and injuries.
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.
