Safety Officer

1. PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Safety Officer is responsible for implementing, monitoring and maintaining occupational health and safety standards across construction and project sites. The role ensures that all employees, subcontractors and site activities comply with applicable South African occupational health and safety legislation, client requirements and company safety procedures.

The Safety Officer will actively promote a strong safety culture, identify workplace hazards, conduct inspections and ensure corrective actions are implemented promptly.

2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIESHealth and Safety Compliance

• Ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993 and applicable regulations.
• Ensure compliance with the Construction Regulations, 2014 and project-specific health and safety requirements.
• Implement and maintain the approved project Health and Safety Plan.
• Ensure that all employees and subcontractors comply with company and client safety procedures.
• Monitor compliance with environmental, health and safety requirements on site.
• Maintain awareness of changes to applicable health and safety legislation.

Site Inspections and Risk Management

• Conduct daily and scheduled health and safety inspections.
• Identify unsafe acts, unsafe conditions and potential hazards.
• Ensure corrective and preventative measures are implemented.
• Conduct and review Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRAs).
• Participate in task-specific risk assessments and method statement reviews.
• Monitor high-risk activities including excavation, working at heights, lifting operations, confined spaces, electrical works and operation of construction equipment.

Safety Documentation

• Establish and maintain the project Health and Safety File.
• Ensure all required safety documentation is current and readily available for inspection.
• Maintain records of:
• Risk assessments
• Method statements
• Toolbox talks
• Safety inspections
• Incident and accident investigations
• Employee inductions
• Training records
• PPE registers
• Medical fitness certificates
• Equipment inspection registers
• Contractor safety documentation

Training and Induction

• Conduct health and safety inductions for employees, contractors and visitors.
• Conduct and coordinate toolbox talks.
• Identify safety training requirements.
• Promote continuous health and safety awareness across project teams.
• Ensure employees understand site-specific risks and emergency procedures.

Incident Management

• Investigate incidents, accidents, near misses and unsafe occurrences.
• Prepare detailed incident investigation reports.
• Identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor implementation of corrective and preventative measures.
• Assist management with statutory reporting requirements where applicable.
• Maintain incident and accident registers.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Ensure employees are issued with appropriate PPE.
• Monitor correct use and maintenance of PPE.
• Maintain PPE issue registers.
• Report damaged, unsuitable or inadequate PPE and arrange replacement where necessary.

Emergency Preparedness

• Assist with developing and implementing emergency response procedures.
• Ensure emergency equipment, first aid kits and fire-fighting equipment are available and regularly inspected.
• Coordinate emergency drills where required.
• Ensure emergency contact information and evacuation procedures are displayed and communicated.

Contractor and Subcontractor Management

• Review subcontractor health and safety documentation before commencement of work.
• Monitor subcontractor compliance with project safety requirements.
• Participate in contractor safety meetings.
• Ensure non-compliance findings are addressed within agreed timeframes.

Reporting

• Prepare weekly and monthly health and safety reports.
• Report safety performance, incidents, inspections and outstanding corrective actions to management.
• Attend project, site and health and safety meetings.
• Provide safety statistics and information required by clients or management.

3. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• Relevant qualification in Occupational Health and Safety, Safety Management or a related field.
• SAMTRAC, Health and Safety Management or equivalent recognised safety qualification advantageous.
• Relevant construction health and safety training.
• Minimum 3–5 years' experience as a Safety Officer within the construction, civil engineering, infrastructure, water, roads or related sectors.
• Sound knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Construction Regulations.
• Experience compiling and maintaining construction Health and Safety Files.
• Experience conducting risk assessments, inspections and incident investigations.
• Valid driver's licence advantageous.
• Ability to work on construction sites and travel between project locations where required.

4. PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

Registration with SACPCMP as a Construction Health and Safety Officer (CHSO) will be highly advantageous and may be mandatory where required by the client or project.

Relevant additional registrations or professional memberships will be advantageous.

5. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

The successful candidate should have working knowledge of:

• Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993.
• Construction Regulations, 2014.
• Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA).
• Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.
• Incident investigation procedures.
• Working at Heights requirements.
• Excavation and trenching safety.
• Construction plant and equipment safety.
• Electrical safety.
• Lifting operations.
• Emergency preparedness.
• Environmental and waste management requirements.
• Contractor health and safety management.

6. KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to enforce safety requirements professionally and consistently.
• Strong reporting and administrative skills.
• Ability to identify risks and recommend practical solutions.
• Good organisational and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet project deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Confidence communicating with employees, subcontractors, engineers and management.
• Commitment to promoting a proactive safety culture.

7. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Performance will be measured against:

• Compliance with statutory and client safety requirements.
• Completion of scheduled safety inspections.
• Timely closure of safety observations and non-conformances.
• Accuracy and completeness of the Health and Safety File.
• Reduction in workplace incidents and unsafe practices.
• Completion of employee inductions and toolbox talks.
• Timely submission of safety reports.
• Effective management of subcontractor safety compliance.
• Implementation of corrective and preventative actions.

8. WORKING CONDITIONS

The position is primarily site-based and may require:

• Working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Travelling between construction sites.
• Working extended hours where project activities require.
• Wearing prescribed PPE at all times while on site.
• Working around construction equipment, machinery and active civil works.

9. GENERAL

The Safety Officer may be required to perform additional health, safety and environmental duties reasonably associated with the position and project requirements.

The employee is expected to maintain professional standards, confidentiality and full compliance with company policies and procedures at all times.

Pay: R10 803,09 - R18 433,83 per month

Work Location: In person