Permanent

Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Senior - Midrand, Gauteng - Job ID 3811

Senior Occupational Health and Safety Officer needed with a Diploma/Degree in Safety Management or equivalent qualification along with 5 years’ practical experience in the development, implementation, maintenance, and auditing of OHS management systems. Knowledge of occupational hygiene practices, environmental management systems, railway safety management, risk management systems, fire safety, First Aid, and Facilitator/Moderator training. Registration with at least one of the following professional bodies at any level: SAIOSH or SACPMCP or similar professional body.

**Position details**:
Type: Permanent
Reports to: Health & Safety Manager, SHERQ Division

Work Context and Environment: Normal weekly hours as well as periodic night shift during engineering hours, including visits to various worksites including construction sites, stations, tunnel, and Gautrain alignment.

Primary Purpose: Support the development, implementation and maintenance of Health and Safety Management System that mitigates occupational OHS risks and retain the certification.

Job description / core competencies:
Alignment of OHS systems with applicable ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, as well as Railway Safety Regulator Standards.

Undertake compliance monitoring and verification of Occupational Health and Safety systems as well as contractor systems compliance.

Review and present SHEQ Induction and Railway Rule Book Training and other OHS awareness training to all staff and subcontractor employees.

Manage on a day-to-day basis OHS Management System requirements to ensure creation and maintenance of highest levels of safety within all company-controlled premises.

Interact with external parties to ensure that Gautrain’s Health and Safety Systems remain abreast with changes in the field of OHS.

Lead and undertake incident and accident investigations as per company Incident Management Procedures and relevant legal requirements.
Ensure effective management of all incidents/accidents including follow up on all corrective and preventive actions.

Conduct proactive, planned and ad-hoc inspections required to monitor compliance and support those required by various authorities e.g., Fire Departments, DoEL Inspectors, Railway Safety Regulator, etc.

Coordinate, perform and support internal and external OHS audits.

Effective management through to closure, of all OHS non-conformances raised during audits and inspections.

Participate in EMS meetings, liaison meetings and Gauteng Disaster Management Forum meetings.

Specific Responsibilities

Formulate and review OHS policies, procedures, and processes.

Develop and implement programs to ensure compliance with all OHS procedures.

Undertake safety awareness campaigns and instil a sense of safety consciousness among employees and contractors at all levels.

Undertake proactive and reactive internal safety audits and coordinate all external safety audits.

Attend all SHE Committee Meetings and provide advice and guidance at these meetings to improve OHS

Initiate and/or coordinate emergency drills as per the plans discussed and approved at EMS meetings.

Liaise with applicable authorities and other organisations on safety and industrial/occupational health matters of common concern.

Develop strategies and plans to meet SHEQ objectives and continually improve SHEQ performance against set targets.

Undertake any other duties as assigned by higher authority and support other SHERQ team members in view of achieving common divisional and business goals.

**Location**: Midrand, Gauteng

**Job Qualifications, Skills & Experience**:
Diploma/Degree in Safety Management or equivalent qualification.

5 years practical experience in the development, implementation, maintenance, and auditing of OHS management systems.

General knowledge of relevant South African OHS legislation, applicable SANS standards and associated OHS standards.

Knowledge of occupational hygiene practices, environmental management systems, railway safety management, risk management systems, fire safety, First Aid, and Facilitator/Moderator training.

Registration with at least one of the following professional bodies at any level: SAIOSH, SACPMCP, IOSM, or SAIOH or similar professional body.

Desirable Traits

Possess analytical and critical thinking ability (data interpretation, analysis of incident trends, etc.)

Ability to communicate with staff at all levels (presentation skills, confidence, passionate about OHS through leading by example).

Team player (approachable, available, strong link in the team).

Possess leadership qualities.