Competent Operator Scheme (COS)

What is the Competent Operator Scheme?

The Competent Operator scheme was developed to address a critical need for operational competence in the water sector, ensuring workforce capability towards quality assurance and the safety of drinking water supplies. As a consequence of the competition provision in the Water Act 2003, a framework for the competency standard required for ‘operators’ working within water treatment works was agreed by representatives from the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), Water UK (Water UK), UK water industry (water companies) and EUSR.

The scheme, based on an established Competence Management Approach, enabling a controlled, industry agreed level of competent performance, requires all companies to adopt a common approach to minimum standards, meaning:

• Individuals fully understand the performance expected of them to maintain competence over time
• Increased assurance as an industry through an external quality assurance and governance process

Competent Operator Certificates are issued at company level and not individual level and will verify the company has robust management systems in place, and meet the agreed scheme Principles and Requirements, to demonstrate and confirm a competent workforce. It is the responsibility of companies to ensure their operatives reach and maintain the agreed levels of competence.

Principles

This scheme incorporates ten clearly defined, industry established Principles that define the requirements that each business must operate within. Each Principle is then described in more detail, thereby enabling a business to consider their existing policy and procedures relating to each requirement. Evidence of how each requirement is being satisfied by the business is then collated and maintained in a manner deemed appropriate to each business.

This evidence and the systems, procedures and processes used to operate and manage the Competent Operator is then audited by EUSR to facilitate both initial certifications, midway surveillance and subsequent re-certification.

Registration

Individual water companies can contact EUSR to commence the approvals process, during which they must demonstrate they meet the Competent Operator Scheme Principles and Requirements.

Certificates will be valid for 5 years, and subject to interim surveillance.

Renewal

Re-certification at the 5-year point subject to the outcomes of the audit process by EUSR.

Resources

Competent Operator Scheme – Scheme Operating Manual

Contact us

Energy & Utility Skills is the custodian of the Competent Operator Scheme, with responsibility for developing and providing overall governance. Individual water companies can contact Energy & Utility Skills to commence the approvals process, during which they must demonstrate they meet the Competent Operator Scheme Principles and Requirements.

Competent Operator Scheme approval process and requirements, please read the Scheme Operating Manual and Appendices.

For further queries, please contact the Quality Team via email [email protected].