Derick
Health & Safety Officer – Woodlands Dairy (Pty) Ltd
Woodlands Dairy (Pty) Ltd
Humansdorp, Eastern Cape
Permanent
Posted: 30 April 2026 | Closing Date: 14 May 2026
Role Overview
Woodlands Dairy is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Health & Safety Officer to join its Health & Safety Department within a fast-paced FMCG production environment. The role reports directly to the Safety Supervisor and plays a critical part in ensuring full compliance with occupational health, safety, environmental, and quality requirements across all operational areas.
This position is central to maintaining a safe working environment, reducing workplace incidents, and supporting continuous improvement in safety performance across the organisation.
Core Purpose of the Role
The primary objective of the Health & Safety Officer is to ensure that all health and safety systems, processes, and procedures are effectively implemented and maintained in line with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and internal company standards.
The role also focuses on proactive risk management, incident prevention, compliance monitoring, and the promotion of a strong safety culture throughout the workplace.
Key Responsibilities
1. Legal Compliance & Regulatory Adherence
The Health & Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring that the organisation complies fully with the Occupational Health & Safety Act and related legislation.
This includes:
- Monitoring compliance across all departments
- Ensuring safety procedures align with legal requirements
- Maintaining up-to-date legal registers and documentation
- Supporting external inspections and audits
- Advising management on regulatory obligations
Non-compliance risks must be identified early and escalated appropriately to prevent operational disruptions or safety incidents.
2. Risk Assessment & Hazard Management
A major part of this role involves identifying workplace hazards and implementing control measures.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting regular risk assessments across operational areas
- Evaluating equipment safety and operational risks
- Identifying unsafe working conditions and behaviours
- Recommending corrective and preventive actions
- Monitoring effectiveness of implemented controls
The officer must continuously reassess risks as production processes change or expand.
3. Incident Reporting & Investigation
The role requires accurate recording and investigation of workplace incidents.
Key duties include:
- Recording all incidents, near misses, and injuries
- Investigating root causes of incidents
- Preparing detailed incident reports
- Recommending corrective and preventive actions
- Tracking implementation of corrective measures
The objective is to reduce repeat incidents and improve overall workplace safety performance.
4. Audits, Inspections & Compliance Monitoring
The Health & Safety Officer conducts routine inspections to ensure adherence to safety standards.
This includes:
- Daily, weekly, and monthly safety audits
- Departmental compliance inspections
- Verification of safety equipment condition and usage
- Monitoring housekeeping and workplace orderliness
- Reporting audit findings and tracking corrective actions
Attention to detail is critical, especially in high-risk production environments.
5. Emergency Preparedness & Fire Safety
The role includes managing emergency response readiness across the facility.
Responsibilities include:
- Coordinating fire drills and evacuation exercises
- Ensuring emergency procedures are clearly communicated
- Maintaining emergency response equipment readiness
- Training staff on emergency procedures
- Evaluating response effectiveness after drills
The officer ensures that all employees are prepared to respond effectively in emergency situations.
6. Training & Safety Awareness
Promoting safety awareness is a key responsibility of this role.
Tasks include:
- Conducting toolbox talks and safety briefings
- Supporting safety induction training for new employees
- Identifying training needs within departments
- Reinforcing safe work practices across teams
- Promoting continuous safety education
The role helps build a strong safety-first culture within the organisation.
7. Documentation & Reporting
Strong administrative discipline is required in maintaining safety records.
The officer is responsible for:
- Preparing safety reports and compliance documentation
- Maintaining safety files and records
- Updating registers and tracking systems
- Submitting accurate reports to management
- Ensuring documentation is audit-ready at all times
Reports must be clear, accurate, and submitted timeously.
8. Safety Signage & Equipment Monitoring
The role includes ensuring that safety signage and equipment are properly maintained.
Responsibilities include:
- Ensuring correct placement of safety signage
- Monitoring visibility and compliance of signage standards
- Checking availability and condition of PPE
- Evaluating effectiveness of safety equipment
- Reporting deficiencies and coordinating replacements
9. Continuous Improvement & Risk Reduction
The Health & Safety Officer plays a key role in improving safety performance over time.
This includes:
- Identifying trends in incidents and risks
- Recommending improvements to safety systems
- Supporting process improvements in production areas
- Encouraging employee participation in safety initiatives
- Driving a culture of continuous safety improvement
Minimum Requirements
- Grade 12 (Matric certificate)
- SAMTRAC or Risk Management qualification (or equivalent)
- Diploma in Health & Safety Management or Environmental Health (advantageous)
- 2–3 years’ experience in a Health & Safety Officer role
- Strong understanding of occupational health and safety legislation
Technical Skills & Competencies
- Knowledge of OHSA and related safety regulations
- Experience with safety management systems (e.g. Shopware, SHEQX)
- Strong report writing and documentation skills
- Ability to conduct risk assessments and audits
- Computer literacy (MS Office and safety systems)
- Incident investigation and root cause analysis skills
Key Behavioural Competencies
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and under pressure
- Proactive and solution-oriented mindset
- Strong sense of accountability and responsibility
- Ability to influence safety behaviour across teams
- Good planning and organisational ability
Working Environment
This role is based in a manufacturing and FMCG production environment where strict safety compliance is essential. The position requires frequent movement across operational areas, engagement with staff at all levels, and the ability to respond quickly to safety-related issues.
Closing Summary
The Health & Safety Officer role at Woodlands Dairy is a critical position focused on protecting employees, ensuring legal compliance, and improving overall safety performance within a high-volume FMCG production environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in reducing risk, improving safety culture, and maintaining operational excellence.
Applicants should be prepared for a hands-on, detail-driven role that requires consistency, discipline, and a strong commitment to workplace safety standards.
