Job Description

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.



A postgraduate qualification in Safety Management, Risk Engineering, Environmental Law, or Process Safety is highly advantageous, especially for candidates operating in regulated



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



Expert-level understanding and application of South African health, safety, and environmental legislation, including:



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 hazardous materials, radiation, fire, or major hazard installations.

Statutory and Regulatory Compliance:

Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA)



Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act)



Construction Regulations, 2014



Major Hazard Installation (MHI) Regulations, 2022



Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations (RHCS)



National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)



Municipal Fire and Environmental Bylaws (City of Tshwane and Welkom)



SAPHRA and NNR licensing, monitoring, and reporting frameworks

Technical Standards and Codes:

SANS 10400-T - National Building Regulations:

Fire Protection



SANS 1475 - Portable Fire Extinguishers



SANS 10234 - Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for chemical classification and labelling



SANS 10228/10229 - Transport and Warehousing of Dangerous Goods



ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems



ISO 31000 - Risk Management Principles and Guidelines



ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems



ISO 9001 - Quality Management Systems



NFPA 72 - National Fire Alarm and Signalling Code



NFPA 400 - Hazardous Materials Code



SAQCC Fire Systems certification requirements



Between 5 - 7 Years