A crucial role of the Competent Person is to:

The role of the Competent Person is fundamentally tied to ensuring safety within a work environment, particularly in roles related to collection system maintenance. This individual is knowledgeable and capable of identifying existing and potential hazards that could affect the safety and health of workers. Through their expertise, they can assess risks associated with various activities and implement appropriate measures to mitigate those hazards.

Identifying hazards is critical in ensuring that proper safety protocols are followed, thus preventing accidents and injuries during the execution of maintenance work. Additionally, a competent person is expected to be able to communicate these hazards effectively to the team and ensure that protective measures are in place, thereby fostering a safer work environment.

Other options involve activities that are important in their own right but do not align as closely with the primary focus of the Competent Person's responsibilities. For instance, providing training on water quality, designing sewer systems, or monitoring water usage are typically tasks more aligned with specialists in those areas rather than the specific function of hazard identification and mitigation, which is central to the role of a Competent Person.