Competent vs. Qualified

OSHA standards often reference designations like Competent Person and Qualified Person. Training programs may refer to a trained and Authorized User. OSHA says a Designated Person is the same as an Authorized Person. Many organizations require Certified Persons on staff. But what do all of these titles or designations mean? This safety topic reviews what it means to be called competent, qualified, authorized, designated, and certified.