The definition
What 'competent person' means in AS 4084:2023
AS 4084:2023 defines a competent person as someone who has, through a combination of training, qualifications and experience, the knowledge and skill to perform the assigned task safely and effectively. In a racking context that means the person inspecting your warehouse must demonstrate four things: formal training, demonstrated experience, independence and documented competency.
The four traits
What to look for in writing
| Trait | What good looks like | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Formal training | Recognised racking inspector course; structural or rigging qualifications | No certificates, only 'years on the tools' |
| Demonstrated experience | Portfolio of AS 4084 inspections across selective, drive-in and cold-room sites | First-year inspector with no portfolio |
| Independence | No commercial pressure to under-call findings | Inspector employed by the supplier of the racking |
| Documentation | CV, certificates, sample report, current insurance | Verbal claims and no paperwork |
Internal vs external
Can it be one of our own people?
Yes — but only for the inner inspection cadences. AS 4084:2023 expects four levels of inspection (daily, weekly, monthly/quarterly, annual). The first three can be delivered by trained in-house staff. The annual inspection is the one that requires an independent competent person with formal training and documented experience. Most in-house teams meet the bar for daily and weekly. Very few meet it for the annual.
Independence matters
Documentation
What to ask for before you book
- Current CV with completed AS 4084 inspections listed.
- Certificates of formal training (racking inspection or structural).
- Public liability insurance ($20m minimum is standard).
- Professional indemnity insurance.
- A redacted sample inspection report.
- A written scope confirming whole-of-site coverage (not a 10% sample).
Keep all of this on file with the inspection report itself. If a regulator or insurer ever asks how you verified competence, the answer should be a folder, not a phone call.