Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Senior Occupational Health and Safety Officer Vacancy 2026

Opportunity Overview

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is seeking a dedicated Senior Occupational Health and Safety Officer. This vital role is based in Bisho, Eastern Cape, and focuses on maintaining a safe and healthy working environment across the department's facilities.

This position involves enforcing health and safety regulations, developing preventative measures, and ensuring compliance with relevant OHS legislation. It's an opportunity for a qualified and experienced individual to make a significant impact on workplace safety within a key government department.

Minimum Requirements

• National Diploma (NQF6) in Occupational Health and Safety or a relevant qualification recognised by SAQA.
• A minimum of two (2) years' experience in Occupational Health and Safety.
• Registration with a relevant OHS body, holding a certificate from SAIOSH/SACPCMP, and possession of SAMTRAC.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and its Regulations, Code of Practice of South African National Standard, related prescripts, and National Building Regulations.
• Understanding of project management, financial management, and Supply Chain Management legislation.
• Good communication (verbal and written), problem-solving, report writing, organising, and planning skills.
• Strong analytical thinking.
• Good computer literacy and proficiency in standard software packages.
• Ability to gather and analyse information.
• Ability to work under pressure, both independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to travel long distances and spend time away from home.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct safety inspections to enforce health and safety regulations within Departmental facilities.
• Compile reports detailing recommendations for injury/illness prevention and corrective actions at various sites.
• Compile and regularly update health and safety files.
• Investigate incidents and determine necessary mitigation measures for OHS interventions.
• Compile and maintain all safety-related records.
• Conduct workplace risk assessments, manage incident registers, monthly registers, and OHS 19 related statistics.
• Coordinate emergency evacuation drills and assist in emergency preparedness for the workplace.
• Coordinate Regional OHS quarterly committee meetings.
• Develop, coordinate, and implement Occupational Health and Safety education and training programmes.
• Develop and review applicable Occupational Health and Safety Statutory Standards, Policies, and Procedures for Departmental facilities.

What the Work Involves

The Senior Occupational Health and Safety Officer will play a central role in ensuring a safe workplace. Day-to-day tasks will include conducting regular safety inspections across various departmental facilities to ensure strict adherence to health and safety regulations. A significant part of the role involves detailed report writing, outlining findings from inspections and incident investigations, and proposing concrete recommendations for preventing injuries or illnesses.

The officer will be responsible for meticulously managing health and safety files and records, ensuring they are always up-to-date. This also includes conducting comprehensive risk assessments and maintaining various registers and statistics. The role requires coordinating emergency preparedness activities, such as evacuation drills, and facilitating OHS committee meetings. Furthermore, the officer will be instrumental in developing and delivering OHS training and in reviewing departmental safety policies. While much of the work involves administrative and policy development tasks, the role requires willingness to travel to different sites, often for long distances and periods away from home, to conduct inspections and investigations.