§ 79. Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what qualifications a competent person must have to inspect safety equipment under the 1965 power press regulations.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Power Presses Regulations 1965 do not require any specific qualifications for a competent person and whether a person is competent for the purpose of the regulations is for the court to decide. However, it is generally considered that such a person should have such practical and theoretical knowledge and the actual experience of the type of machinery or plant which he has to examine as will enable him to detect defects or weaknesses which it is the purpose of the examination to discover, and to assess their importance in relation to the strength and functions of the machinery or plant.