Emcare Safety Officer Course: Becoming a Safety Officer in South Africa

• 1 July 2021

Most South African workplaces require a safety officer. Safety officers are one of the most important employees as they ensure that the workplace is a safe working environment for everyone on the premises. We have looked into the important aspects of being a safety officer in South Africa and demonstrated how the Emcare Safety Officer course is the ideal choice for those wanting to enter into this profession. 

Safety Officer: 

A safety officer, which is also referred to as an occupational health and safety officer, is the employee who is responsible for the safety of the workers and visitors in a workplace. A safety officer will develop, implement, improve, advise, and monitor all health and safety procedures in the workplace. 

Safety Officer Requirements: 

There are certain qualification requirements you need to work professionally as a safety officer in South Africa. 

1. Qualified in Industry: The safety officer needs to hold a formal qualification within the chosen industry. 
2. Qualified as a Safety Officer: The safety officer needs to have a valid safety officer qualification, such as the Emcare Safety Officer certificate. 
3. Experienced: The safety officer needs to have experience working in the selected industry. 

Your specific industry will also have different registration requirements. We have listed a few of the organisations you need to register with to become a safety officer in certain industries. 

1. Mining Safety Officer: You need to be registered with the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) to be a mining safety officer. 
2. Medical Safety Officer: You need to register with the South African Society of Occupational Medicine (SASOM) as a requirement of becoming a medical safety officer.  
3. Construction Safety Officer: To become a construction safety officer, you need to be registered with the South African Centre for Project Construction Managers and Plumbers (SACPCMP). The registration process requires you to apply online, where your profile will be assessed. If you pass the assessment phase, you are then required to write an examination. 
4. General Workplace Safety Officer: You need to be registered with Saiosh. Saiosh can register safety officers for various industries. 

Emcare Safety Officer Course: 

To become a safety officer, you need to have a certified Safety Officer course. Emcare offers a Safety Officer course that will fully equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to have a successful profession as a safety officer in South Africa. 

The Emcare Safety Officer course is specifically designed to suit South African legislation. The course will teach you all theoretical and practical skills to be proficient in your position as a safety officer. 

To enrol in the Emcare Safety Officer course, you simply need an English proficiency and a grade 10 level of education. The Emcare course will take two weeks to complete. On completion, you will receive a safety officer certificate. 

Why Choose Emcare: 

When it comes to selecting a Safety Officer course, Emcare is your first choice for these important reasons. 

Comprehensive Course: 

Emcare ensures that you are fully prepared to be the best safety officer in your industry with the Safety Officer course. The course covers every topic relevant to performing as a professional safety officer. From legislation to contractor safety management to accident incident investigation, every topic is thoroughly covered and practically demonstrated. 

Accredited: 

The Emcare Safety Officer course is accredited with the Construction and Training Authority (CETA) and the South African Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Saiosh). These accreditations give the Emcare course certification value as they uphold the course to high, legal standards. 

Quality Trainers: 

The Emcare course is facilitated by highly trained professionals. All Emcare trainers are fully qualified and have years of experience in their relevant industry. The Emcare trainers are all registered to be training facilitators. You can trust that the training you will receive will be of the highest quality. 

At Emcare, our students always come first. We promise to provide you with a professional service where you are treated with respect and appreciated for your commitment to pursuing a career in safety. 

Available All Over South Africa: 

The Emcare Safety Officer course is available at all the Emcare facility branches. The Emcare branches are located in Polokwane, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban, and Hoedspruit. We are also able to come to business premises for groups of ten or more who are interested in doing the Emcare course. 

Our branches are also fully equipped with all relevant training, presentation, and learning equipment to provide you with a full learning experience. 

Dedicated to Safety: 

Emcare is a specialised health and safety training company. We are dedicated to training individuals who are eager to increase their health and safety knowledge or pursue a profession in the health and safety industry. We, therefore, ensure that you will be fully equipped to keep your workplace safe as a safety officer. 

Industries that Need Safety Officers: 

Safety officers are critical in most industries, but this is a list of industries that require safety officers to be present in the workplace. 

1. Mining: Mines are extremely dangerous to work environments with increased risk of large-scale damage and loss of life. Miners are exposed to workplace hazards in a mine that includes thermal stress, chemical exposure, dust inhalation, and muscular injuries. A mining safety officer is critical towards minimising the risks that miners face. 
2. Construction: The construction industry covers a broad range of construction projects, and within each of these projects are unique workplace hazards. Construction workers face the risk of injuries, inhaling dangerous chemicals, and falling from heights. All construction sites need a construction safety officer present. 
3. Forestry: Workers in the forestry industry are constantly exposed to hazards. Forestry workers are at risk of machinery accidents, falling trees, falling rocks, and falling off steep slopes. To ensure the consistent safety of workers and machinery, a forestry safety offer is critical. 
4. Medical: Medical workers in hospitals are exposed to a vast range of workplace injuries. Exposure to pathogens, hazardous chemicals, injuries from sharp utensils, and patient violence are common risks a medical worker faces. Medical safety officers are therefore necessary. 
5. General Businesses: This covers the broad scope of large-scale businesses or businesses that work with hazardous materials or procedures. If your business falls into this category, you need to have a safety officer present in your workplace. Workplace safety is critical in every business, no matter the scale or risks, and therefore a safety officer is useful in every business. 

Safety Officer Responsibilities: 

The responsibilities or duties of a safety officer will vary according to the specific nature of the industry or business the safety officer is operating in. We have listed a few key responsibilities that safety officers will be in charge of in a workplace. 

1. Inspect and Identify: The safety officer will inspect the workplace to identify the hazards. 
2. Safety Management Policy: The safety officer will develop a business-specific safety management policy that will ensure that workplace injuries, illnesses, and property damage are minimised. 
3. Monitor: The safety officer will continuously monitor the workplace to ensure they are always able to notice a workplace hazard. 
4. Correct: The safety officer will correct any current safety policies if they are not up to legal standards. 
5. Informed: A safety officer will keep informed on any changes to the relevant health and safety laws or regulations. These will then be implemented into the workplace. 
6. Encourage: The safety officer will encourage all workers in the workplace to strictly follow safe work practices. 
7. Investigate: Should an incident occur in the workplace; the safety officer will investigate the situation and make an assessment. 
8. Authority: If there is a workplace emergency, the safety officer will be in an authoritative position to ensure the correct actions are taken and that safety is maintained. 
9. Employee Concerns: The safety officer will respond to any employee concerns about safety. 
10. Training: The safety officer will train all employees on relevant emergency plans. The safety officer will also discover needed training related to the work procedures and inform the employers. 
11. Personal Protective Equipment: The safety officer will ensure that all workers have the relevant personal protective equipment in the workplace. The safety officer must also make sure that all visitors to the workplace receive personal protective equipment. 
12. Waste Management: Safety officers will make sure that all workplace waste is correctly disposed of. 

You will learn all the relevant skills needed to perform your responsibilities as a safety officer through the Emcare Safety Officer course. 

Character Traits of a Safety Officer: 

Alongside the official requirements to be a safety officer, there are additional character traits that are beneficial to this profession. You should consider becoming a professional safety officer if you possess any of these desirable characteristic traits. 

1. Communication: Both written and verbal communication skills are critical as a professional safety officer. You will be placed in a position of authority and will need to communicate all safety measures clearly and confidently to workplace employers and employees. You should also ensure that you respond to all work-related queries and needs timeously. 
2. Critical Thinking: You need to be able to critically evaluate your workplace for any possible hazards and then devise an accurate safety management plan to reduce these risks.  
3. Problem Solver: You need to be able to quickly find solutions to problems as they arise in the workplace. Depending on your industry, a small problem can become a workplace emergency in minutes if the correct actions are not immediately taken. 
4. Responsible: You need to be a responsible person who will not sacrifice health and safety measures in the workplace for any reason. You also need to be able to understand the weight of your position and be able to take ownership of the responsibilities and obligations that are associated with being a safety officer. 
5. Attention to Detail: As the safety officer, no detail can miss your attention. If one hazardous detail is overlooked, you could put the lives of the employees at risk or cause property damage. 
6. Concern for People: Your entire profession is based on minimising risk to lives; therefore, you must have a concern for the wellbeing of the people you work with. 

Becoming a Safety Officer in South Africa: 

We have summarised all the information about being a safety officer into a step-by-step procedure so that you can start becoming a professional safety officer in South Africa. 

1. Choose an industry to become qualified in. 
2. Gain experience working in that industry. 
3. Do a Safety Officer course, such as the Emcare course.
4. Register with the relevant registration bodies. 
5. Apply to become a professional safety officer with a business. 

Gain the relevant skills and knowledge needed to be a safety officer from the Emcare Safety Officer course.