It is not uncommon for Health and Safety Officers to be appointed as ‘16.2 Appointees’. This role essentially puts the Health and Safety Officer in charge of developing, implementing, and managing health and safety systems across the organisation on behalf of, and under the guidance of, the CEO.
What does the OHS Act require from employers?
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993 requires employers to provide a workplace that is safe and without risk to employees’ health and safety. Employers must identify hazards, control risks, and ensure that all health and safety measures are implemented and enforced.
Why is compliance with the OHS Act important for a business?
Non-compliance with the OHS Act can result in serious consequences, including:
- Fines of up to R100,000
- Criminal liability for the employer, CEO, or employees
- Shutdowns or stoppages
- Imprisonment of up to two years
Apart from the legal and financial consequences of non-compliance, meeting the requirements laid out by the OHS Act ensures that workplaces are healthy, safe, and prepared environments for employees, customers, contractors, and the general public.
Who is ultimately responsible for health and safety in an organisation?
The CEO and employer hold ultimate legal responsibility for health and safety within a company. Section 16 of the OHS Act states that the CEO must ensure that the employer’s duties are fulfilled “as far as is reasonably practicable.” This responsibility always lies with the CEO and employer, even if health and safety duties and responsibilities are delegated to another team member (such as a 16.2 Appointee).
What is a 16.2 Appointee?
A 16.2 Appointee is a person nominated by the CEO to manage the company’s health and safety system. As previously stated, legal responsibility still ultimately sits with the employer and CEO. In addition, Section 16 of the OHS Act states that a 16.2 Appointee “shall act subject to the control and directions of the chief executive officer”.
Why appoint a Health and Safety Officer as the 16.2 Appointee?
A trained Health and Safety Officer is the ideal candidate for a role as a 16.2 Appointee because they are:
- Familiar with the OHS Act and its regulations
- Skilled in planning, implementing, and monitoring health and safety systems
- Qualified in first aid, firefighting, and evacuation planning and procedures
- Competent in risk assessment and incident investigation
In short, their expertise enables them to manage health and safety proactively and correctly.
What are the duties of a Health and Safety Officer acting as a 16.2 Appointee?
A Health and Safety Officer typically performs the following functions:
Planning and leadership
- Setting annual health and safety goals
- Assisting with the health and safety budget
- Developing policies, procedures, health and safety team organograms, and appointment letters
Risk management
- Conducting risk assessments
- Implementing control measures for identified hazards
- Maintaining emergency response plans
Incident investigation and documentation management
- Supporting investigations of accidents and incidents
- Assisting with completing and filing incident reports, compensation paperwork, and investigation forms
Training and communication
- Working with HR to run health and safety induction programmes
- Ensuring that team members’ health and safety certificates and training are up to date
- Keeping employees informed about health and safety initiatives
- Ensuring contractors and visitors comply with health and safety requirements
Compliance enforcement
- Monitoring adherence to the OHS Act and applicable regulations
- Ensuring the health and safety management system operates effectively
How does training and appointing a Health and Safety Officer benefit a business?
A competent Health and Safety Officer may provide:
- Legal protection by actively ensuring company compliance with the OHS Act
- Improved risk management
- Safer working conditions
- Improved staff morale
- Reduced incidents and associated costs
- Support for the CEO’s statutory duties
The appointment of a Health and Safety Officer stands to strengthen an organisation’s health and safety culture, ensure that health and safety measures are properly implemented and enforced, and improve its OHS compliance status.
Where can organisations train a Health and Safety Officer?
First Aid, Fire and Safety Training (FAFST) offers a practical and affordable 10-day Health and Safety Officer training course that covers:
- Important aspects of OHS Act compliance
- Risk assessment techniques and procedures
- Incident investigation techniques and procedures
- Health and Safety Team management
- Emergency preparedness planning
- Development and implementation of health and safety management systems
- First aid and firefighting certificates
Contact us for course details or to book your training.