The Department of higher education and training recently gazetted the 2020 national list of occupations in high demand – and Health and Safety Managers are one of them.
The best news is that you don’t need a university degree.
Given the current pandemic and ongoing health concerns, it’s no surprise that Health and Safety Manager was near the top of this critical list. Now more than ever, health and safety is a high priority in businesses – which means excellent employment opportunities for you.
What is a Health and Safety Manager?
As the title suggests, a health and safety officer is responsible for the health and safety of employees in the workplace, and ensuring that the working environment remains risk-free at all times. On a day-to-day basis, your responsibilities could include tasks as diverse as conducting health and safety training sessions, investigating workplace incidents, carrying out inspections, giving health and safety advice, and ensuring the workplace is free of any potential hazards.
By carrying out these duties, you’ll help to decrease the likelihood of workplace injuries, accidents and illnesses, which will help to save your company money, improve productivity, and increase employee morale at the same time.
Not only will you have the satisfaction of making a positive and rewarding contribution in a valuable role, you’ll also reap significant benefits as well:
- Salary: According to a recent study by Indeed, qualified and experienced health and safety officers can expect to earn more than R30 000 per month.
- Flexibility: With health and safety officers in high demand both locally and internationally, you’ll have a number of career options and locations open to you.
- Opportunity: With all businesses in South Africa needing to comply with health and safety regulations, you’ll have the opportunity to work in industries as diverse as mining, construction and engineering, as well as retail and manufacturing too.
Where can I train for my health and safety qualifications?
If you’re interested in pursuing health and safety as an occupation, NOSA has a range of courses specially designed to help you along the way, most notably SAMTRAC – one of the industry’s most recognised and respected health and safety qualifications:
- Introduction to SAMTRAC: With this qualification, you’ll gain a good understanding of the fundamentals of HSE legislation and compliance, and you’ll learn how to conduct hazard identification inspections and risk assessments. Complete the Introduction to SAMTRAC course successfully, and you’ll then be eligible to move onto the more advanced SAMTRAC certification.
- SAMTRAC: With SAMTRAC, NOSA’s flagship health and safety qualification, you’ll be introduced to technical knowledge at the highest level, and you’ll be given an in-depth look at all HSE-related concepts, procedures and techniques. You’ll also receive thorough training in risk management and HSE regulations, which will allow you to make strategic decisions and drive positive change in health and safety policies.
Start your health and safety career with these sought-after courses, and continue to expand your knowledge with more NOSA training programmes as you progress. There’s no university degree needed – only enthusiasm, drive and ambition, and a willingness to learn and reach your full potential. Good luck!
David Rowland, Head of Marketing at Engage EHS, is one of the foremost proponents of a stringent health and safety policy. He claims that a positive health and safety culture is vitally important and that it can have a knock-on effect on your business's KPIs and bottom line.