In the safety monitor program, a competent person must be close enough to the workers to do what?

• A. Communicate orally with workers
• B. Use hand signals only
• C. Monitor via radio
• D. Observe from a distance

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the monitor must be close enough to workers to communicate with them verbally at any moment. Oral communication allows the monitor to give immediate, clear instructions to stop work or change procedures, and it lets workers confirm they understand what to do. In hazardous or noisy environments, relying on signals or radios isn’t always reliable or fast enough, and watching from a distance can miss important cues like a worker showing distress or a rapidly changing condition. Being nearby ensures the monitor can quickly respond, assess hazards, and coordinate actions with the team.