Senior Health & Safety Officer - VKB Milling, Mokopane

Introduction to the VKB Group

The VKB Group is an agricultural company, providing support to farmers and producing straight-from-the farm-foods for consumers. Apart from the various consumer brands, the VKB Group is also represented by its regional brands: VKB, GWK and NTK. Our roots are firmly planted in agriculture with farming at our core, continuously growing and evolving throughout the years.

Starting with providing everything needed on the farm to produce food, we now also operate in all areas of the food supply chain: processing, logistics, and national and global market channels.

This “house of brands” we’ve established with the support of our farmer shareholders is the foundation for building the agribusiness of the future.

More About

VKB Milling (Pty) Ltd is one of four subsidiaries of VKB Agri Processors (Pty) Ltd, the agri-processing division of the VKB Group. The VKB Group is a significant role player in the agricultural industry in South Africa and strives, through best practices, continuous improvement and world-class operations, to add meaningful value to the industry.

VKB Milling (Pty) Ltd operates white maize mills in Mokopane and Louis Trichardt in Limpopo, and Mashishing in Mpumalanga, a wheat mill in Frankfort in the Free State as well as a maize mill in Christiana and a Wheat Mill in Modderrivier in the Northern Cape.

The company offers employees the opportunity to utilise and develop their skills and knowledge in a challenging and rewarding work environment.

Job Description

The Senior Health & Safety Officer has the responsibility to ensure that all of VKB Milling safety policies, procedures, and processes, as well as any legal requirements, are fully complied with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and its regulations. Ensure that all risks are identified, and controls are implemented, and risks are mitigated.

Requirements

1. Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent
2. A National Diploma in Safety Management or a B. Tech degree in Safety Management would be beneficial.
3. Occupational Health and Safety qualification, such as NEBOSH or a related field (including food safety)
4. COMSOC 1/2 or SAMTRAC qualification
5. NOSA certification
6. At least 6 years of proven experience in the safety field, with experience in an agricultural environment being beneficial.
7. Incident Investigation Level 3 certification
8. A clean criminal record is necessary
9. Being medically healthy with no serious health ailments or illnesses is required
10. A valid driver's license is essential
11. Own reliable transport is also essential

Duties And Responsibilities

1. Investigate all accidents and review control measures.
2. Inspect workplaces to identify non-conformities.
3. Research ways to improve health and safety standards.
4. Provide support to business managers and employees to provide a safe working environment.
5. Develop health and safety programs and strategies.
6. Keep up-to-date with relevant laws and technical knowledge.
7. Write monthly reports against set deadlines.
8. Conduct various types of risk assessments.
9. Ensure that all Risks identified have identified mitigation controls and are implemented.
10. Ensure that all relevant legal appointments are valid and retained.
11. Schedule and facilitate Health and Safety Committee meetings and keep records for management review.
12. Develops, implements and maintains an effective program and ensures compliance to meet the requirements of local legislation, for example, the OHS, COID, Environmental Conservation and railway acts.
13. Develop systems to ensure that all employees comply with all relevant legal safety requirements.
14. Identify safety training needs, organize and coordinate safety training courses, and prepare training materials where appropriate.
15. Coordinate safety meetings:
16. Ensure meeting times are set
17. Agendas are sent out
18. Minutes are kept and sent out
19. Ensure that all support documentation regarding the security programme is received from all parties involved promptly and in the correct format
20. Assist in the appointment of all legal appointments
21. Communicate changes in safety and environmental legislation to management.
22. Evaluate incident forms, surveys, and audits to establish causes and, together with the supervisors and managers concerned, formulate a plan of action to correct non-compliant behaviour or conditions.
23. Liaise with contractors on site to ensure they comply with company safety regulations and compliance with safety standards, including basic safety induction training.
24. Conduct surveys and audits as required to identify and minimize risk to the company and employees.
25. Identify unsafe acts, conditions and hazards, investigate causes identify corrective and preventive actions and report to management.
26. Coordinate at least two evacuation drills per year to ensure all staff become familiar with these procedures.
27. Assist in formulating emergency/contingency plans for:
28. Natural disaster
29. Industrial action
30. Political turmoil
31. Fire
32. Explosions
33. Bomb threats
34. Review and update emergency procedures as and when necessary.

Skills

1. At least an intermediate skill level, proficient in MS Office.
2. Thorough report writing skills including conducting risk assessments and non-conformity audits.
3. Preparation and delivery of presentations.
4. Accurate, detail-oriented, excellent communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and ability to implement and administer safety systems.

Knowledge

1. Thorough knowledge of relevant local safety, security and environmental legislation:
2. OHSACT
3. COID ACT
4. Environmental Conservation Act

Other Information

• The company can expire jobs at any time at their own discretion.
• VKB Group and/or its subsidiary companies will use any personal data collected through the job opportunities section of this website for recruitment purposes only and, should your application be successful, for purposes connected with your employment.
• VKB Group is an equal opportunity employer. VKB Group’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to VKB Group’s Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. VKB Group actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities.
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• Use Google Chrome when accessing the portal.
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