SHER Manager at Hire Resolve

Job Description

• A leading meat processing and abattoir operations company is looking for an experienced SHER Manager with strong experience in high-risk industrial environments, including ammonia refrigeration, biological hazard control, and FMCG food safety systems to join their team in Oudtshoorn. The role focuses on proactive risk mitigation, ensuring legal compliance, and protecting the workforce from the unique hazards inherent to high-volume abattoir operations, heavy machinery, and cold-chain logistics, without compromising production efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Lead facility-wide Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA) and develop preventative measures for high-risk zones.
• Act as the primary custodian for compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), COIDA, and agricultural frameworks including the Meat Safety Act and Regulation R638.
• Oversee risk management and emergency evacuation protocols for industrial ammonia refrigeration systems and pressurized boiler units.
• Drive continuous improvements in protocols to control biological, chemical, and ergonomic risks associated with knife work, heavy lifting, and wash-downs.
• Manage the facility's environmental footprint, focusing on effluent treatment, organic waste disposal, and water conservation.
• Lead root-cause investigations for workplace injuries and near-misses, and manage reporting to executive management and regulatory bodies.
• Drive safety awareness campaigns, toolbox talks, and mandatory training (first aid, firefighting, machine operation) for staff and contractors.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree, BTech, or National Diploma (NQF Level 6/7) in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Management, Risk Management, or Food Science.
• 5 to 8 years of progressive health and safety experience, with a minimum of 3 years in a management capacity within an abattoir, meat processing facility, or large-scale FMCG food manufacturing plant.
• Completed SAMTRAC or a NEBOSH International General Certificate/Diploma.
• Formal training in advanced HIRA and Incident Investigation is mandatory.
• Working knowledge or certification in ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
• Prerequisite understanding of HACCP or FSSC 22000 is highly advantageous.
• Comfortable working across extreme temperature variations, including sub-zero freezers and high-humidity processing floors.
• Executive-level report writing and presentation skills, with decisive crisis-management leadership.