Occupational Health and Safety Advisor

Occupational health and safety advisors develop, implement and evaluate risk management policies and programmes. They conduct environmental impact assessments and observe employee safety practices and proceed to develop methods to minimise environmental impact and ensure employee safety. They also instruct and train employees in safety procedures and investigate potential incidents to highlight challenges in current safety plans.

Occupational health and safety advisors work closely with a company’s personnel to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. They often travel to sites of inspection, returning to an office to evaluate the working conditions of an operation.

Skills

Occupational health and safety advisors require a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of environmental and health and safety requirements, standards and regulations, along with:

• Critical problem-solving and analytical competence
• Good organisational skills and keen attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Good verbal and written communication and presentation skills

Tasks

Conduct risk assessments and investigate particular incidents of concern

Develop internal strategies, polices and occupational procedures

Advise on and implement safe occupational practices

Train and monitor personnel on working operations and procedures

Studies

B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc. in Environmental Health at UP

B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc. in Environmental Management at UFS, UJ, UNISA and UP

B.in Environmental Health at NMU and UJ

Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Environmental Health at CPUT, CUT, MUT and TUT

Employers

National, provincial and local government.

Mining companies.

Manufacturing and construction companies.

Power generation plants.

Private consultancies.

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