SafetyWallet’s occupational health and safety auditor criteria for businesses in Johannesburg South, Bassonia, Mulbarton and Glenvista
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) audits may not be compulsory by law, but organisations are, however, legally obliged to ensure that they comply with the requirements as stipulated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
One of the best ways in which employers or businesses in Johannesburg South, Bassonia, Mulbarton and Glenvista can ensure compliance with OHSA, is to have an audit conducted by SafetyWallet.
SafetyWallet offers employers who subscribe to SafetyWallet a health and safety audit to manage health and safety compliance in daily business operations, with the support of the SafetyWallet team and SafetyWallet partners.
The audit team is highly qualified, experienced and professional and will identify strengths and weaknesses and highlight opportunities for the organisation to improve their everyday safety, health and environmental risk management.
It is imperative for auditors to be qualified and certified as such, making it necessary to overview and explore the auditor criteria with regards to occupational health and safety, specifically where SafetyWallet auditors are concerned.
SafetyWallet is proud to say that it is registered as a corporate member and that the SafetyWallet audit and support team members are registered in their personal capacity as members of the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH). 
South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health – Overview
On February 11, 2010, a group of enthusiastic health and safety professionals of South Africa established the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, on the historic day when South Africa celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from prison.
In 2013, SAIOSH was recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) as a professional body to register Occupational Health and Safety Professionals in South Africa in terms of the NQF Act, Act 67 of 2008. SAIOSH is the largest Occupational Health and Safety professional body in Africa and the leading source of information and networking opportunities within the Occupational Health and Safety profession in South Africa.
Health and safety auditor overview
The certification criteria for occupational health and safety management systems, or OHS systems, auditors were developed by SafetyWallet and its partner OHS Online. The purpose of the criteria is to certify auditors who conduct independent internal and/or external audits. By obtaining this certification, SafetyWallet health and safety auditors prove they have the required skills to perform occupational health and safety management system audits effectively.
Objectives of the health and safety auditors training programme
The training programme has been specifically developed by our partner MAKROSAFE and accredited by QCTO to meet the following objectives:
- To substantially increase the level of professional recognition associated with OHS auditors.
- To add more value to OHS audits by ensuring the competence of auditors.
- To provide international recognition of OHS auditors certified in South Africa.
- To assist organisations in selecting auditors who are appropriately qualified, and
- To provide credible and accountable OHS auditor certification programmes.
OHSAS programme – Overview
The OHSAS programme contains the specific requirements for an OHS system. This enables an organisation to both control its OHS risks and to improve the performance thereof. However, it does not state specific OHS performance criteria and neither does it provide detailed specifications on the design of an OHS management system. Therefore, an OHSAS programme is applicable for organisations who wish to:
- Establish an OHS management system for the elimination or minimisation of risks to employees and other interested parties who may be exposed to OHS risks in the workplace.
- Implement, maintain and continuously improve the OHS management system.
- Assure itself that it is compliant with the stated OHS policies.
- Demonstrate its compliance to others.
- Pursue certification and/or registration of the OHS management system by means of an external organisation, and
- Make a self-determination and declaration of compliance with the OHSAS standard.
These stated OHSAS requirements can form part of any OHS management system. These factors will determine the extent of the application and the OHS policies of the organisations, as well as the nature of activities, risks and complexity of operations.
Specific criteria for OHS auditors for SafetyWallet
To become a certified SafetyWallet OHS Auditor, the individual must comply to the following factors:
- They must possess the desired personal behaviour in that they are ethical, open-minded, diplomatic, observant, perceptive, versatile, tenacious, decisive, self-reliant, acting with fortitude, open to improvement, culturally sensitive, collaborative, professional, possess moral courage and organised.
- Tertiary education; either N3 or equivalent to NQF 4, and tertiary education such as a degree, artisan status or diploma or, in the absence of such, have matric, N3 or equivalent to NQF4, as well as four years of work experience in a relevant field.
- The relevant work experience accompanied with a tertiary degree, or in the absence of such, a specified amount of years’ work experience of which five years must be in an OHS based role.
- At least two years relevant OHS Online management system work experience.
- The relevant knowledge and skills for auditing, management systems, organisational context, legal as well as contractual requirements, risk management principles and methods.
- Auditor training, management system training, OHS specific training/knowledge and skills.
Why should you make use of a SafetyWallet health and safety auditor?
SafetyWallet provides its subscribers with a highly qualified, professional auditor, full support team and a full-service spectrum of health and safety partners to help you navigate health and safety compliance during your daily operations.
The SafetyWallet auditor focuses on finding any deviations in the health and safety programme or health and safety compliance programme to determine the employers’ level of compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The SafetyWallet health and safety auditor will work to identify any strengths, pinpoint weaknesses and highlight any opportunities to improve the daily health and safety programme. 
