Occupational Health & Safety Officer Vacancy 2026 – Apply for a Permanent Government Job in King William’s Town

Occupational Health & Safety Officer Vacancy 2026 is open . Are you an experienced occupational health and safety professional looking for a permanent government job in South Africa? The Occupational Health & Safety Officer vacancy at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution could be an opportunity worth exploring. The position offers a competitive annual salary, permanent employment, and the chance to contribute to a safer and healthier working and learning environment.

The position is advertised under Occupational Health & Safety Officer, Reference Number OHS/02/09/2026. It is based at the Central Office in King William’s Town and is offered as a permanent PERSAL appointment.

The successful candidate for the position of Occupational Health & Safety Officer Vacancy 2026 will be responsible for coordinating and monitoring Safety, Health, Environment, Risk and Quality (SHERQ) programmes, promoting compliance with occupational health and safety legislation, identifying workplace hazards, coordinating safety training, and managing resources.

Applicants for Occupational Health & Safety Officer Vacancy 2026 should have the required post-school qualification, a valid driver's licence, and three to five years of relevant experience in facilities management, SHERQ, and occupational health and safety within a TVET environment.

This article explains the vacancy details, salary, requirements, responsibilities, skills, and practical steps applicants can follow when preparing their applications.

Occupational Health & Safety Officer Vacancy Details

Below is a summary of the advertised position.

Job Title: Occupational Health & Safety Officer
Reference Number: OHS/02/09/2026
Employment Type: Permanent
Appointment Type: PERSAL Appointment
Salary: R413,001 – R486,501 per annum
Salary Level: Level 08
Additional Benefits: Actual benefits, as applicable
Location: Central Office, King William’s Town
Sector: Public Sector / TVET Environment

The position is suited to candidates with experience in occupational health and safety, facilities management, safety management, construction management, or a related professional field.

Applicants should consult the official vacancy advertisement to confirm the employing institution's name, application procedure, closing date, and any additional documents or conditions before applying. This article explains the vacancy details, salary, requirements, responsibilities, skills, and practical steps applicants can follow when preparing their applications.

About the Occupational Health & Safety Officer Position

An Occupational Health & Safety Officer plays an important role in protecting employees, students, contractors, visitors, and other people who use institutional facilities.

In a TVET environment, health and safety responsibilities can cover administrative offices, workshops, training facilities, laboratories, maintenance areas, storage rooms, and other institutional buildings. These environments may present different risks, including electrical hazards, fire risks, unsafe equipment, slips and falls, poor housekeeping, and exposure to hazardous materials. This article explains the vacancy details, salary, requirements, responsibilities, skills, and practical steps applicants can follow when preparing their applications.

The officer helps ensure that these risks are identified and managed through appropriate policies, procedures, inspections, training, and monitoring systems. These environments may present different risks, including electrical hazards, fire risks, unsafe equipment, slips and falls, poor housekeeping, and exposure to hazardous materials.

The position for Occupational Health & Safety Officer Vacancy 2026 also involves supervising and coordinating SHERQ programmes. SHERQ refers to Safety, Health, Environment, Risk and Quality. These programmes support an organised approach to workplace safety, environmental responsibilities, risk management, and quality standards. These environments may present different risks, including electrical hazards, fire risks, unsafe equipment, slips and falls, poor housekeeping, and exposure to hazardous materials.

Occupational Health & Safety Officer Vacancy 2026. The successful candidate for Occupational Health & Safety Officer Vacancy 2026 will need to combine technical knowledge with leadership, communication, planning, problem-solving, and resource-management skills.

Salary and Employment Benefits

The advertised salary is R413,001 to R486,501 per annum at Salary Level 08, plus actual benefits.

The lower and upper figures represent the advertised salary range, not a guaranteed starting salary for every applicant. The final salary and applicable benefits will depend on the employer's appointment conditions and relevant public-service rules.

For job seekers comparing employment opportunities, this salary range can help with financial planning. However, applicants should remember that annual salary is not the same as take-home pay. Tax, pension contributions, medical scheme arrangements, and other applicable deductions may affect the amount received each month. These environments may present different risks, including electrical hazards, fire risks, unsafe equipment, slips and falls, poor housekeeping, and exposure to hazardous materials.

The permanent nature of the appointment may appeal to qualified professionals seeking longer-term employment in the public sector. However, applicants should remember that annual salary is not the same as take-home pay. Applicants should verify the exact conditions of service and benefits with the recruiting institution.

Minimum Requirements for the Vacancy

Candidates must meet the stated requirements to be considered for the position.

1. Educational Qualifications

Applicants must have:

Matric or NCV Level 4; and
A recognised three-year National Diploma at NQF Level 6 or a degree in Building Management, Safety Management, Construction Management, or a related qualification.

The wording of the official advertisement should be checked carefully to confirm how the school qualification and tertiary qualification requirements are applied.

Applicants with qualifications in related fields should ensure that their qualifications are recognised and relevant to the duties of the position. If necessary, consult the relevant qualification authority or the recruiting institution for clarification.

2. Valid Driver’s Licence

A driver's licence is listed as a requirement. If necessary, consult the relevant qualification authority or the recruiting institution for clarification. Applicants should ensure that they hold a valid licence and provide the relevant details or supporting documentation as requested in the official advertisement.

The licence may be useful when travelling between institutional facilities or attending inspections, meetings, and other work-related activities.

3. Relevant Work Experience

Applicants must have three to five years of experience in Facilities Management, SHERQ, and an Occupational Health and Safety environment within a TVET environment.

This is an important requirement because the position involves more than general administrative duties. The successful candidate will be expected to coordinate programmes, monitor compliance, identify risks, support training, and supervise resources.

Relevant experience may include conducting workplace inspections, coordinating safety committees, maintaining safety records, monitoring corrective actions, supporting fire safety arrangements, and helping implement occupational health and safety procedures. This is an important requirement because the position involves more than general administrative duties. The licence may be useful when travelling between institutional facilities or attending inspections, meetings, and other work-related activities.

Applicants should describe their actual responsibilities clearly in their CVs, highlighting experience that directly relates to the advertised duties. The licence may be useful when travelling between institutional facilities or attending inspections, meetings, and other work-related activities.

Important Links:

Knowledge and Skills Required

The successful candidate should have a sound understanding of applicable legislation, institutional procedures, facilities management systems, and workplace safety practices.

Knowledge of Legislation and Regulations

The advertisement identifies the following areas of knowledge:

Public Service Act and Regulations.
Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and related regulations.
Immovable Asset Management Act.
Facilities management systems.
Fire control systems.
Telephone management systems.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 provides an important legislative framework for workplace health and safety in South Africa. Professionals working in this area should understand the responsibilities of employers and employees, workplace hazard management, and the importance of appropriate safety measures.

Knowledge of public-service legislation and asset management requirements is also relevant to working in a government institution.

Applicants should be familiar with the legislation and systems that apply to their actual work experience and should avoid claiming expertise in areas they have not worked with.

Planning and Organising Skills

The officer will need to coordinate safety programmes, organise inspections and training, monitor implementation, and ensure that important tasks are completed within appropriate timeframes.

Strong planning skills can help an institution manage competing priorities and respond to identified hazards before they result in injuries, damage, or operational disruption.

Financial and Project Management

The role includes supervising financial and other resources. Financial management skills can assist with budgeting, monitoring expenditure, and ensuring that available resources are used responsibly.

Project management skills are useful when implementing safety improvements, coordinating maintenance-related safety measures, arranging training, and following up on corrective actions. The licence may be useful when travelling between institutional facilities or attending inspections, meetings, and other work-related activities.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Occupational health and safety requires cooperation between management, employees, students, contractors, maintenance teams, and other stakeholders.

The officer should be able to explain safety procedures, communicate identified risks, prepare reports, facilitate meetings, and encourage people to follow the relevant policies.

Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills

Workplace risks can vary considerably between offices, workshops, laboratories, and other facilities. Analytical skills help an officer assess available information, recognise patterns, prioritise risks, and recommend appropriate control measures.

Problem-solving skills are essential when safety issues require investigation, corrective action, or coordination between different departments.

Computer Literacy and Leadership

Computer literacy is useful for preparing reports, maintaining safety records, tracking incidents, monitoring compliance, and communicating with stakeholders.

Leadership and people-management skills are also important because the position involves supervision and coordination. The officer must help establish accountability, support staff, and promote a culture in which safety is treated as a shared responsibility.

The advertisement also lists marketing research skills. Applicants should review the complete official notice for the precise expectations associated with this requirement.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The appointed Occupational Health & Safety Officer will be responsible for overseeing several important areas.

1. Coordinate and Monitor SHERQ Programmes

One of the primary responsibilities is to supervise, coordinate, implement, and monitor compliance with SHERQ programmes.

This involves helping ensure that safety, health, environmental, risk, and quality measures are implemented consistently. The officer may need to review procedures, monitor progress, maintain records, and identify areas requiring improvement.

Regular monitoring helps management understand whether established controls are effective and where additional action may be needed.

2. Establish and Coordinate an OHS Committee

The successful candidate will supervise and coordinate the establishment of an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) committee.

An OHS committee provides a structured way for relevant workplace representatives to discuss safety concerns, review incidents, consider inspection findings, and recommend improvements.

Effective coordination includes organising meetings, preparing relevant information, recording decisions, and following up on agreed actions.

The officer should help ensure that workplace safety concerns receive appropriate attention and that relevant responsibilities are clearly communicated.

3. Conduct Occupational Health and Safety Training

The position includes supervising and conducting OHS-related training and continuous educational programmes.

Training helps employees understand workplace hazards, emergency procedures, safe work practices, and their responsibilities under applicable safety rules.

Depending on institutional needs, educational programmes may address fire prevention, emergency preparedness, safe equipment use, housekeeping, incident reporting, and hazard identification.

Continuous education is important because workplace conditions, equipment, procedures, and risks can change over time.

4. Identify Workplace Hazards and Risks

The officer will be expected to identify workplace hazards and risks and initiate appropriate action.

Hazard identification may involve inspections, reviewing incident reports, consulting employees, observing work activities, and examining the condition of buildings, equipment, and work areas.

Potential hazards may include damaged electrical equipment, blocked emergency exits, unsafe storage, inadequate signage, fire hazards, slippery floors, or poorly maintained facilities.

Once a risk has been identified, suitable corrective action should be initiated through the institution's approved procedures. Serious or urgent risks should be escalated to the appropriate responsible persons.

5. Develop and Implement the SHERQ Management System

Another key responsibility is to develop, implement, and monitor the SHERQ management system.

A management system helps organise policies, responsibilities, procedures, records, monitoring activities, and corrective actions. It provides a structured approach to identifying risks and improving workplace safety.

The officer may be required to assess existing arrangements, identify gaps, recommend improvements, monitor implementation, and report on compliance.

Good recordkeeping and regular reviews are important because they help demonstrate progress and identify areas that need additional attention.

6. Supervise Human, Physical and Financial Resources

The successful candidate will supervise human, physical, financial, and other resources.

This requires responsible planning and coordination to ensure that the work unit has appropriate support to carry out its duties. It may involve allocating tasks, monitoring performance, managing available resources, and ensuring that expenditure follows approved procedures.

Resource management is especially important when several facilities, safety activities, or improvement projects must be coordinated at the same time.

Why This Vacancy May Interest Experienced Professionals

This opportunity may appeal to candidates who want to apply their occupational health and safety knowledge in a public-sector educational environment.

TVET institutions play an important role in developing practical skills and preparing students for employment. Maintaining safe learning and working environments supports teaching, training, maintenance, and administrative operations.

For a suitably qualified professional, the position offers an opportunity to contribute to risk reduction, compliance monitoring, workplace education, and institutional safety management.

However, candidates should assess the position against their actual qualifications and experience. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or appointment, as recruitment decisions depend on the employer's selection process.

How to Prepare Your Application

Applicants can use the following checklist when preparing to apply.

Step 1: Read the official vacancy advertisement.

Confirm the closing date, application method, contact details, required documents, and any additional instructions. These details were not included in the vacancy information provided for this article.

Step 2: Update your CV.

Include your qualifications, relevant employment history, responsibilities, and achievements. Highlight experience in facilities management, SHERQ, workplace inspections, safety training, risk assessments, and compliance monitoring where applicable.

Step 3: Prepare proof of qualifications.

Ensure that your Matric or NCV Level 4 and relevant tertiary qualification details are accurate. Submit certified copies only if required by the official advertisement.

Step 4: Include your driver's licence details.

Make sure your CV and supporting documents accurately reflect your licence status and comply with the employer's instructions.

Step 5: Demonstrate relevant experience.

Describe practical examples of your work in occupational health and safety or facilities management. For instance, you might explain how you helped identify a hazard, coordinated a safety meeting, supported a training programme, or monitored corrective actions.

Only include responsibilities and achievements that genuinely reflect your experience.

Step 6: Check the application before submission.

Verify that all required documents are included, your contact details are correct, and your application follows the prescribed procedure.

Step 7: Submit before the closing date.

Late or incomplete applications may not be considered. Keep a copy of your application and any confirmation of submission for your records.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid submitting generic CVs that fail to demonstrate relevant experience. A targeted CV makes it easier for the recruitment team to identify how your qualifications and work history match the requirements.

Other mistakes include providing inaccurate information, omitting required documents, failing to follow application instructions, and assuming that an application has been received without checking the prescribed submission process.

Candidates should also be cautious of recruitment scams. Do not pay an individual who promises to secure a government job or interview. Use official recruitment channels and verify vacancy information before providing personal documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the salary for the Occupational Health & Safety Officer vacancy?

The advertised salary is R413,001 to R486,501 per annum at Level 08, plus actual benefits.

2. Where is the position based?

The position is based at the Central Office in King William’s Town.

3. Is the position permanent?

Yes. The supplied vacancy details describe the position as a permanent PERSAL appointment.

4. What qualifications are required?

Applicants need Matric or NCV Level 4, together with a recognised three-year National Diploma at NQF Level 6 or a degree in Building Management, Safety Management, Construction Management, or a related qualification.

5. How much experience is required?

The stated requirement is three to five years of experience in Facilities Management, SHERQ, and an OHS environment within a TVET environment.

6. Is a driver's licence required?

Yes. A driver's licence is listed among the requirements.

7. What are the main duties?

The main duties include coordinating SHERQ programmes, establishing and coordinating an OHS committee, conducting safety training, identifying workplace hazards, implementing a SHERQ management system, and supervising resources.

8. How can I apply?

Follow the application procedure in the official vacancy advertisement. The application link, closing date, and submission instructions were not provided in the information used to prepare this article.

Final Thoughts

The Occupational Health & Safety Officer vacancy, Reference Number OHS/02/09/2026, presents an opportunity for an experienced safety professional to contribute to workplace health, safety, and compliance in a TVET environment.

With an advertised annual salary of R413,001 to R486,501, permanent employment, and responsibilities covering SHERQ programmes, risk identification, training, and resource supervision, the position is best suited to candidates who meet the stated qualification and experience requirements.

Before applying, carefully review the complete official advertisement and confirm the closing date, required documents, and submission process.

If you meet the requirements, prepare a clear, accurate, and relevant application that demonstrates your qualifications, practical experience, leadership abilities, and commitment to maintaining safe working and learning environments.

Start Your Application Here: