Safety Specialist Supervisor

**Key Responsibilities**:
The Safety Specialist Supervisor shall fulfil the following core responsibilities across South Africa and its group companies
Legal Appointments, Authority Liaison & Dual Role Fulfilment
Hold the legal appointment as Chief Safety Officer (CSO) under MHSA Regulation 2.17.4, coordinating all safety activities across multiple Safety Officers and operational zones.
Assume the full operational duties of HSE Officer 1 or 2 when those appointees are unavailable, regardless of reason or duration, ensuring continuity of legal compliance and safety oversight.
Supervise and direct HSE Officer 1 and 2, issuing instructions, verifying implementation, and escalating unresolved issues to the appointed manager or Head of HSE.
Maintain centralized registers of legal appointments under MHSA, OHS Act, and Construction Regulations, ensuring statutory documentation is current, auditable, and aligned with operational
responsibilities.
Liaise with SAPHRA, NNR, Department of Employment and Labour, and municipal authorities in Tshwane and Welkom to manage licensing, renewals, inspections, and incident reporting.
**Qualifications And Experience**:
Educational Background
A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial), or a related technical discipline.
environments such as nuclear, chemical, or mining sectors.
**Professional Registration and Legal Competency**:
**Registration with a recognized professional body such as**:
SACPCMP (South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions)
SAIOH (South African Institute of Occupational Hygiene)
IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health)
IRCA (International Register of Certificated Auditors)
**Legal competency to hold appointments under**:
MHSA (including Chief Safety Officer under Regulation 2.17.4)
OHS Act (including Section 16(2), Section 8, and Section 37.2)
**Certification in**:
SAMTRAC
NEBOSH International General Certificate
SAQCC Fire Systems (advantageous)
Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) designation or SAPHRA/NNR-recognized training (preferred for nuclear/radiation environments)
ISO Lead Auditor (ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 31000)
**Experience Requirements**:
Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in health and safety roles within high-risk, regulated environments such as:
Mining
Nuclear operations
Chemical processing
Advanced manufacturing
**Demonstrated experience in**:
Supervising HSE teams and managing legal appointments
Leading internal and external audits
Conducting and facilitating risk assessments (baseline, issue-based, continuous)
Incident investigations and regulatory reporting under MHSA, OHS Act, NEMA, and MHI Regulations
Commissioning safety, operational readiness, and emergency response planning
Hazardous chemical substance management, radiation safety, and dangerous goods warehousing
**Core Competencies**:
The Safety Specialist Supervisor must demonstrate the following core competencies to fulfill the strategic, legal, and operational demands of the role:
Advanced Legal and Regulatory Interpretation
Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA)
Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act)
Construction Regulations
Major Hazard Installation (MHI) Regulations
Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations
National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)
SAPHRA and NNR licensing and compliance frameworks
Municipal bylaws in Tshwane and Welkom
Ability to interpret complex, overlapping legal requirements and translate them into integrated, site specific compliance strategies and operational controls.
**Multidisciplinary Technical Safety Expertise**:
**Deep knowledge of safety engineering principles, including**:
Risk management
Fire safety
Radiation protection
Chemical safety
Emergency preparedness
**Skilled in conducting and leading**:
HAZOPs
MHI assessments
Fire risk evaluations
**Proficient in applying**:
SANS standards
NFPA codes
ISO frameworks (ISO 45001, ISO 31000)
Leadership, Supervision & Team Development
Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop HSE Officers and cross-functional teams.
**Strong supervisory skills with experience in**:
Managing legal appointments
Performance development
Succession planning within the HSE function
**Demonstrated capability in preparing for and leading**:
Internal audits
External regulatory inspections
Certification audits (ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 9001)
Skilled in developing audit schedules, conducting gap analyses, and ensuring that all findings are addressed through structured corrective action plans.
Maintains high standards of documentation, traceability, and audit readiness across all safety systems.
Incident Management & Root Cause Analysis
Highly proficient in conducting structured investigations using:
TapRooT
RCAT
Bowtie Analysis
5-Whys
Focused on identifying systemic failures and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
Experienced in managing high-consequence incidents involving