Referencing dictionary.com, “qualified” means several things. Here are two definitions:
a. having the qualities, accomplishments, etc.,that fit a person for some function, office, or the like
b. having the qualities, accomplishments, etc., required by law or custom for getting, having, or exercising a right, holding an office, or the like
Excellent topic, Ken.
I can’t tell you how many people I have come across that hold an electrical license of some sort that think they are qualified. You said it right that they are a licensed unqualified person.
Thanks Bill! It is pretty scary out there. I have run across some people that truly have no business being in the electrical trade. That sounds mean-spirited (not my intention), but unfortunately is true.
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Great article Ken. This would directly apply to those companies that continue to have employees seek their own “On Line” training thinking that it will satisfy this requirement. How can a company deem you “qualified” if they do not train you on the exposures that you may be exposed to within their organization and their specific Electrical Safety Programs? Unfortunately there are still a lot of companies that are not willing to provide this training and try to save costs by putting the requirement on the employee with some as a pre-employment requirement.
You are right Terry. Unfortunately the responsibility of training is totally legally on the employer from the OSHA perspective. I’d never assume that a degree or a card means you are qualified. Many of the incidents I have investigated have been of people who were qualified for one job but NOT for the job they got hurt doing.
Hugh
Can a non-supervisory personnel (like a peer, not management) be the one who sign off as the qualifier of the employee to be a QEW? Or in other words can the non-qualified demonstrate to a peer who is qualified? Will that suffice or must the “employer” be a supervisor or management?
This is up to the employer. THEY are responsible. If they delegate this to a more qualified assessor who is not a manager, the company/employer is still responsible from OSHA’s perspective. That person could be the AHJ or they could just be a qualified assessor designated by the company.