Junior SHEQ Officer | East London

Interwaste, a leader in waste management solutions across Southern Africa, is seeking a seasoned Junior SHEQ Officer to join our team at the East London Branch . With a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and operational excellence, Interwaste is dedicated to creating a better future by transforming waste challenges into impactful opportunities.

Role Overview

The Junior SHEQ Officer will play a pivotal role by protecting employees’ health and safety. The SHEQ Officer will ensure that risks in the workplace are properly controlled and to ensure employers comply with all aspects of health and safety. In addition, they will assist with the implementation and maintenance of an effective environmental, health and safety, and risk control system that will ensure compliance with ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and Regulations (OHS Act), and other standards as may be prescribed by the company from time to time.

If you are a results-driven individual with a strong background in Health and Safety, a commitment to integrity, and a desire to work for a company that makes a difference, we invite you to apply and join us in shaping a sustainable future.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct daily safety inspections across all operational areas including production lines, assembly areas, logistics, warehousing.
• Inspect machinery, tools, lifting equipment, conveyors, forklifts, emergency equipment, and operational infrastructure to ensure compliance with plant (MBSA) safety standards and legal requirements.
• Monitor equipment condition and operational practices to proactively identify issues that may lead to breakdowns, damage, unnecessary repairs, or increased maintenance costs.
• Support the reduction of repairs and maintenance through early hazard identification, improved operational controls, preventative inspections, and employee compliance with correct operating procedures.
• Monitor employee working practices and operational processes to ensure adherence to safe work procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and PPE requirements.
• Identify unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, process deviations, and operational risks, ensuring immediate corrective actions are implemented.
• Conduct routine compliance checks on housekeeping standards, machine guarding, fire equipment, spill control, chemical storage, pedestrian walkways, and operational traffic management.
• Ensure all daily, weekly, and monthly operational safety checklists are completed accurately, signed off, and maintained according to company and audit requirements.
• Maintain continuous audit readiness by ensuring all operational safety files, registers, inspection records, permits, checklists, training records, and compliance documentation are updated and readily available.
• Assist with internal and external SHEQ audits by preparing documentation, conducting pre-audit inspections, and ensuring operational compliance standards are always maintained.
• Conduct regular operational risk assessments and workplace hazard identification inspections within manufacturing and production environments. Risk assessments must be task specific with the relevant training to employees once completed.
• Monitor contractor activities and ensure compliance with site safety rules, permit systems, and operational safety requirements that aligns to MBSA requirements.
• Participate in incident investigations, near-miss reporting, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation when there is a safety violation issued by AKA.
• Track and follow up on outstanding safety actions, non-conformances, repairs, maintenance concerns, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Conduct toolbox talks, safety briefings, and employee safety awareness interventions on the shop floor.
• Ensure emergency exits, evacuation routes, firefighting equipment, eyewash stations, and first aid points remain compliant and accessible.
• Assist with ensuring compliance with client plant safety standards, SHE policies, ISO requirements, and Occupational Health and Safety legislation.
• Promote a strong safety culture through continuous engagement with operational staff, supervisors, and contractors.

GENERAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Drive the Company’s’ Zero Harm policy within your area of operations.
• Compliance with all health & safety requirements in line with the company's OHS policies & procedures.
• Work within the ISO frameworks and other required by Clients.
• Ensure all SHEQ policies and requirements are upheld and met.
• Ensure SHEQ site file is implemented and maintained.

PEOPLE

• Adhere to the principles of an ethical, honest, transparent, fair work environment.
• Communicate in a professional manner.
• Creating, maintaining, and enforcing company policies and procedures.
• Compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and affiliated professional standards.
• Promote the Code of Ethics (Integrity, Objectivity, Confidentiality and Competence).
• To be responsible for maintaining discipline by using the Company's disciplinary code and procedures, as well as attending to grievances.
• Ensure that all staff members are adequately trained as per the SLA and OSHA requirements.

COMMUNICATION AND FEEDBACK

• Build and maintain strong client relationship with the client.
• Regular communication with the client.
• Understand and manage the needs of the client.
• Ensure all your superiors are notified in a timely manner regarding aspects of your areas as deemed necessary by them.
• Deal with personnel matters such as reporting incidents, customer complaints, requesting new employees, extension of contracts and terminations to your manager.
• Ensure your manager is informed off all staff related matters that will affect the organisation in a dire manner immediately (e.g. IR).

Desired Experience & Qualification

• 2-4 years of experience in a similar role
• SAMTRAC or Nebosh Certificate in Health and Safety
• HIRA (Hazard Impact and Risk Assessment) and Incident Investigation
• Internal auditor certificate in both ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 International Standards
• Valid Drivers Licence

Who We Are

Interwaste is a wholly owned subsidiary of Séché Environnement. We are Southern Africa’s leading waste management company, committed to the sustainable preservation of the environment. We leverage technological excellence and innovation to solve a range of waste problems, ensuring accountability, integrity, safety, and excellence in all our operations.

What We Offer

• Opportunities for growth and development.
• A commitment to sustainability and innovation.
• A supportive, safety-conscious, and inclusive workplace.

Join us in shaping a sustainable future. Apply now to be part of our mission!

If you’re passionate about creating a thriving workplace and are ready to contribute to a sustainable future, apply now and become part of our mission!

Candidates must apply via LinkedIn and submit their resumes for consideration. To learn more about Interwaste, visit our website www.interwaste.co.za

As an equal opportunity’s employer, we uphold a compliant, fair, and inclusive workplace environment. We reserve the right to not fill the position. Should you not here back from us within 4 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful. If you have previously responded, please do not re-submit.

Interwaste subscribes to the principles of employment equity