Chief Safety Officer at Tharisa

Role Context

Risk Assessment and Management

• Identify, assess and manage risks associated with mining activities, to ensure that the assigned area of responsibility meets the requirements as set by the Tharisa Minerals (TM) safety policies and procedure, maintaining compliance with the relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct regular safety audits, risk assessments and inspections to identify potential hazards and areas for improvement, reporting key findings to management to keep them informed.
• Monitor all safety and risk control programmes and projects to ensure that the key objectives are achieved, recommending improvements where needed.
• Evaluate safety and risk control by reporting on key insights and statistical data to keep management informed of the latest safety and risk developments identified.
• Manage the safety department's budget, including allocating resources for safety initiatives and programs, to ensure that all inspections, initiatives, programs and audits are properly planned and implemented, with the expenditure meeting the approved budget allocation.
• Develop and deliver safety training programs to ensure all employees are well-informed about safety procedures and regulations.
• Promote a culture of safety awareness among all levels of the workforce by conducting a climate survey, to identify areas for improvement and ensure that TM remains as safe place to work with minimal incidents reported.

Incident Investigation and Response Management

• Lead investigations of accidents, incidents and near-misses, so as to ensure proper reporting to management and the relevant authorities.
• Develop action plans aimed at managing all Safety and Risk Control function within TM, to prevent future occurrences.
• Establish and maintain emergency response plans, including drills and exercises, to address potential emergencies such as fires, chemical spills, or cave-ins.

Safety Policies and Compliance Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain safety policies, procedures and programs in compliance with South African mining regulations and international safety standards, to ensure legal compliance of the mine.
• Keep abreast of and ensure compliance with any changes in mining safety regulations in South Africa, to ensure that TM maintains compliant with al new legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with environmental officers to ensure mining activities adhere to environmental regulations and minimise their impact on the environment.

Stakeholder Relations

• Communicate with all relevant Departments on issues of the area of speciality. Liaise across the relevant Departments by engaging with the appropriate stakeholders to ensure all stakeholders remain abreast of Departmental objectives, any potential derailers are appropriately managed and duplication of work is avoided.
• Communicate with internal and/or external stakeholders, where required, to achieve work objectives and to maintain relationships.
• Regularly report on safety performance and risks identified to keep senior management informed of all latest developments.
• Act as a liaison between the company and relevant safety regulatory bodies, to obtain the needed support and insights from key subject matter experts, to ensure continuous safe practice and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Resource Management

• Provide input into required changes in resources (financial or non-financial) to enable the achievement of team and/or own objectives.
• Determine resource needs of the team and/or own area of work to achieve business outcomes.
• Request and allocate required assets and/or resources for the fulfilment of work objectives to guarantee quality outputs.
• Monitor the use of assets and resources within the team and own area of responsibility, to ensure assets and resources are consistently and appropriately utilised and managed.
• Provide staff with day-to-day direction and tasks aligned with Departmental procedures, to enable the usage of less resources more efficiently.

Safety Technology and Equipment

• Stay updated on safety technology and equipment by making recommendations for improvements or upgrades, to ensure all safety equipment is maintained and in working order.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• National Diploma (NQF6) in Safety Management within the mining or other relevant industry
• Degree (NQF7) or equivalent Mining Qualification is advantageous

Certifications:

• ISO 19001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 Auditing Certificate
• COMSOC 1 and 2
• Blasting Ticket/Trade Test Certificate
• SAMTRAC/SHEMTRAC or equivalent Certificate
• Incident/Accident Investigation Training
• Legal Liability Training
• Train the Trainer (facilitator training)

Job specific experience:

• Minimum of 5-8 years’ technical experience in SHE, Production or Process within the mining or similar industry
• Experience in conducting audits and engaging in the implementation of ISO initiative and/or contractual interventions within a mining company.
• First Aid/Firefighting Training
• Basic Principles of Occupational Hygiene and Environmental Management
• Valid Driver’s License (code 08)
• Experience/Exposure on MS Dynamics F&O, Reporting tools: MS Power BI