SHE Officer - Somerset West

Our client, based in Somerset West, Cape Town, is seeking an experienced and proactive SHE Officer to join their team. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting and maintaining strong Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality standards, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and company requirements, and driving continuous improvement across the organization. Candidates with experience in manufacturing, food processing, or production environments, together with a strong understanding of SHE management systems, risk assessments, incident investigations, and compliance monitoring, are encouraged to apply.

• Implement, maintain, and continuously improve the SHE Management System.
• Monitor compliance with applicable occupational health, safety, and environmental legislation, as well as company requirements.
• Ensure that minimum legislative, customer, and certification requirements are maintained.
• Develop, implement, and monitor SHE policies, procedures, standards, and safe work practices.
• Maintain accurate SHE records, registers, reports, and statistical information.
• Conduct and continuously review Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA), and recommend appropriate control measures.
• Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of corrective and preventative actions.
• Drive accident prevention and initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact.
• Develop and maintain an internal SHE audit and inspection programme.
• Schedule, coordinate, and conduct SHE audits and inspections.
• Support and prepare the business for internal, customer, certification, and ethical audits, including SMETA where applicable.
• Monitor audit findings and ensure corrective actions are implemented and effectively closed out.

Training & Safety Culture:

• Coordinate and facilitate SHE inductions, training, and awareness programmes.
• Promote employee participation and foster a positive safety culture.
• Ensure employees and contractors understand relevant SHE requirements and safe working practices.
• Identify SHE training needs and assist with the development of appropriate training initiatives.
• Provide SHE guidance and support to operational teams.
• Where applicable, provide functional guidance and supervision to employees involved in SHE-related operational activities.

Incident Investigation:

• Investigate workplace incidents, accidents, near misses, and environmental incidents.
• Identify root causes and recommend appropriate corrective and preventative actions.
• Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of actions arising from investigations.
• Maintain accurate incident records and compile relevant reports and statistics.
• Emergency Preparedness & Fire Safety:
• Implement, maintain, and review emergency preparedness and crisis management plans.
• Monitor, inspect, and replenish First Aid box stock.
• Coordinate emergency response activities and emergency drills.
• Act as the designated Emergency Coordinator where required.
• Ensure emergency equipment, procedures, and communication systems are regularly inspected and maintained.
• Monitor fire system compliance, including fire detection, fire suppression, and fire extinguishing systems.

Contractor & PPE Management:

• Manage and monitor contractor SHE compliance.
• Ensure contractors meet site safety requirements before and during work activities.
• Oversee the implementation and management of the PPE programme.
• Monitor PPE issuing, replacement, cleaning, and laundering processes to ensure hygiene, availability, and compliance requirements are maintained.

SHE Administration & Reporting:

• Arrange, facilitate, and maintain records of SHE and Safety Committee meetings.
• Prepare monthly and ad hoc SHE reports for management.
• Verify SHE inspections, checklists, and compliance documentation.
• Communicate SHE performance, trends, incidents, and improvement opportunities to management.
• Develop, manage, and monitor the SHE budget in consultation with management.
• Manage waste-related activities, including daily, monthly, and ad hoc waste management and specialized disposal requirements.
• Support and monitor relevant security management activities.

Quality & Food Safety Responsibilities:

• Inspect all incoming raw materials against specifications and release products to production where compliant.
• Record and communicate all non-conformances.
• Inspect incoming vehicles to ensure compliance with requirements relating to temperature, cleanliness, and general condition.
• Inspect and verify product quality during receiving, storage, and production processes.
• Conduct and/or verify chemical analysis, shelf-life testing, and organoleptic testing at various stages of production.
• Ensure final products meet specifications and that Certificates of Analysis (COAs) correspond with products prior to release.
• Prepare product samples for testing.
• Monitor supplier product quality and provide feedback through relevant reports.
• Conduct monthly swab testing in accordance with the Food Safety Management System schedule.
• Conduct and/or verify checks required in terms of the Food Safety Management System.
• Handle customer queries and complaints and provide appropriate feedback.
• Interpret and report test results and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders.
• Verify all rework products in accordance with the correct procedures.
• Calibrate scales, thermometers, refractometers, and pH meters.
• Handle and resolve COA-related queries.
• Order and maintain appropriate stock levels of chemicals and consumables.
• Investigate and release stock placed on quality hold in the relevant ERP system.
• Monitor and report on the quality and volumes of packaging materials.
• Assist with and participate in internal quality and food safety audits.
• Train production employees on quality standards, food safety requirements, and best practices.

HOURS:

• Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 17:00