Consultant Occupational Health & Safety at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• The purpose of the role is implementation, monitoring and auditing of Environment, Health and Safety policy, standards and controls within the Absa Group.

Job Description

Accountability: Risk management:

• Ensure compliance with OHS standards and legislation.
• Monitor the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards and management information system (MIS) by obtaining quarterly reports from all Absa workplaces. Assist workplaces to become compliant by sending reminders of information that is still outstanding and escalate non-compliance to Regional Managers.
• Liaise with Business Units by providing expert opinions, advice and recommendations pertaining to the OHS Act and COID (Compensation of Injuries and Diseases on duty).
• Engage with various internal Business Units as CRES, Regional Operations, Group Wellness, People Function and Group Learning to ensure participation and elimination of risks e.g. noise levels, facility related hazards etc.
• Provide input for training material and present training courses if necessary. Provide facilitators with information when facilitators are not able to respond to a learner’s question. Assist in-country consultants to engage training vendors for courses required for upskilling purposes.
• Conduct site inspections and investigations (e.g. injury on duty investigations) to identify OHS risk related shortcomings and to ensure procedural compliance by staff and contractors. Submit a report on findings. Analyse investigation reports issued by in-country authorities.
• Conduct OHS audits and proactive inspections and report on findings with appropriate recommendations to enhance OHS compliance, which could include, technology, procedural, training or even disciplinary action. Submit a report to the workplace and other interested parties.
• Attend to business unit specific meetings and ensure OHS requirements are highlighted and addressed. Attend country legislated OHS Committee Meetings and provide feedback on OHS Compliance from a Centre perspective.
• Assist with development and revision of policies, procedures and standards.
• Assist with implementation of annual OHS Plans stating objectives to be strategically met in accordance with country legislation, Absa OHS policies and supporting documents.
• Assist and advise business on area specific OHS solutions which include; research and development which include the services of technical experts as SABS and occupational hygienists.
• Maintain the OHS Sharepoint site to create continual OHS awareness.
• Ensure that all contractors and service providers comply with country legislation by auditing their system to ensure that they take responsibility for staff working for them and that they have valid certification or registration and work procedures in place.
• Monitor OHS implementation at building sites by obtaining and providing information as prescribed by the country (or South African) Construction Regulations which includes the Principal Contractors OHS plan, responsibilities of the Principal contractor, appointments, training, agendas of OHS meeting held, facilities regulations, personal protective equipment etc. Conduct audits of their OHS procedures, do site inspections and attend site safety meetings if required.

Accountability: Process and Procedure Management for OHS

• Manage the Occupational Health & Safety system by sending a notification to Managers and OHS Representatives via the OHS system to submit quarterly reports.
• Monitor, manage and provide guidance to all Absa workplaces pertaining to this process. Send out a final reminder to workplaces that failed to submit quarterly reports. Obtain final statistics, compile a quarterly report and escalate non-compliance to various stakeholders.
• Assist in-country consultants to drive compliance by performing audits, inspections and by providing guidance pertaining to appointment of Managers, OHS Representatives, First Aiders, Fire Wardens and Evacuation Leaders.
• Liaise with Group Learning, Line Managers and Regional or relevant in-country Managers to ensure that OHS teams receive the required training and that all workplaces conduct physical emergency evacuations at minimum once per annum as prescribed by their legislation.
• Monitor changes in country legislation by receiving changes in legislation from in-country OHS consultants and Legal teams. Assist in-country consultants to compile a legal register for their region and facilitate approval from the in-country legal team, as relevant.
• Assist with the annual review of Group OHS policies and supporting documents.
• Manage business unit queries and specific requirements by assessing the risk and providing guidelines for managing the applicable risk within workplaces, projects and events.

Accountability: Reports

• Compile monthly and quarterly risk management reports and submit to Line Manager. Review the in-country OHS Consultant compliance reports prior their presentation in the quarterly OHS committee meetings, as relevant.
• Escalate non-compliances for OHS System quarterly reports not received, appointments not made and outstanding training requirements to People Managers where required.
• Compile adhoc reports as requested by management.
• Compile executive-level reports after visiting countries/conducting site visits to provide feedback as to the visit and achievements or issues.

Accountability: Providing Solutions to ensure OHS compliance

• Work with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance to eliminate or mitigate risks within the Absa Group. By providing statistics and reports pertaining to non-compliances and incidents.
• Contribute to align policies, supporting procedures and forms to support the prevalent risk reduction and mitigation per workplace.
• Provide guidance and assistance to eliminate or mitigate risks by making use of internal resources, external experts, and in-country authority or Department of Labour approved service providers.
• Be conversant with new technology, training requirements, trends and changes pertaining to OHS matters, to be able to provide clients with solutions.

Accountability: Communication and Client Service

• Be available by means of e-mail and cell phone to assist internal and external clients with OHS related matters.
• Provide communication to our audience on Workplace and on the OHS SharePoint site.
• Travel to conduct training, premises conformance tests and workplace inspections on request of management or the client to assess current and emerging OHS issues, and facilitate the upskilling and education of OHS consultants.
• Attend meetings to represent Group OHS as a supporting function, as well as attend industry related workshops, conferences, seminars and training sessions to become aware of latest trends and changes.
• Engage in knowledge sharing and collaborative efforts with OHS colleagues and stakeholders.
• Drive viewer engagement and participation for Group-wide physical and virtual OHS campaigns, to promote OHS content. Assist to collaboratively create and develop content for the OHS campaigns.

People Investment

• Staff in own area (Manager, Group OHS and in-country OHS consultants)
• Staff outside own area (other Centre and ARO CRES colleagues)
• Internal customers (OHS Team Members)
• External customers (Group Wellness, Group Learning, Group Legal, People Function)
• Regulators / Government local authorities
• Vendors / suppliers
• Other (Industry forums / associations)

Role / Person Specification

Experience and Education:

• NQF Level 6: minimum Diploma in OHS or equivalent
• Risk assessment, risk management experience and OHS experience up to auditing level
• Incident Investigation certificate or diploma
• SAMTRAC / Nebosh certificate or diploma or equivalent
• 3-5 years’ experience in the OHS environment in a major institution, preferably in banking industry or construction industry
• Experience with supervisory and reporting functions
• Effective communication, written and oral skills
• Computer literacy in MS Office applications
• Experience in liaising with external OHS stakeholders
• SACPCMP CHSO (as a minimum) registration or at least proof of application to the SACPCMP

Knowledge and skills:

• Networking with local authorities
• Strong stakeholder management
• Good knowledge of the Occupational Health & Safety legislation
• Audit skills, application of project management methodology and risk management principles
• Must be proficient in analytical risk identification and measurement, as well as risk response strategies
• Self-motivated and take ownership
• Good planning and travel management skills.
• Ability to implement compliance frameworks

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Physical Planning and Construction (Required)