Introduction
In today’s competitive and highly regulated business environment, occupational health and safety compliance is not only a legal obligation but also a strategic leadership responsibility. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) in South Africa — and similar frameworks in other jurisdictions — places the primary legal responsibility for health and safety on the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or equivalent, designated as the Section 16.1 appointee.
Recognizing that CEOs cannot physically oversee every operational detail, the Act allows for the formal delegation of specific health and safety responsibilities to competent persons through the Section 16.2 appointment. This delegation, however, does not absolve the CEO of accountability; rather, it creates a structured management system that ensures safety responsibilities are implemented effectively at every level.
This five-day comprehensive training program equips both 16.1 and 16.2 appointees — along with their supporting teams — with the knowledge, skills, and tools to meet their legal duties, prevent incidents, and create a culture of safety. By the end of this course, participants will understand not only the law but also the practical steps to integrate safety into everyday management.
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive Certificate of Participation.
Course Objectives
- By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
- Interpret the General Management Requirements of OHSA and related regulations.
- Differentiate between 16.1 and 16.2 duties, legal implications, and reporting structures.
- Draft, implement, and communicate compliant Section 16.2 appointment letters.
- Conduct and document hazard identification and risk assessments.
- Implement safety management systems that align with OHSA and industry best practice.
- Monitor, audit, and report safety performance effectively.
- Handle incidents, investigations, and corrective actions with legal compliance in mind.
Duration
5 Days
Who should Attend
- CEOs / Managing Directors (16.1 appointees)
- Section 16.2 Managers / Supervisors
- HSE Managers and Safety Officers
- Project Managers / Departmental Heads
- HR & Compliance Officers
- Senior foremen and team leaders in high-risk industries
Course Outline
Day 1: Foundations of OHSA and Legal Compliance
- Overview of Occupational Health and Safety Legislation in South Africa
- Purpose and scope of General Management Requirements
- Section 16: CEO responsibility (16.1) vs delegated authority (16.2)
- Defining a “competent person” under OHSA
- Legal consequences of non-compliance — criminal and civil liabilities
Case study: Corporate prosecutions and lessons learned
Day 2: The Role and Responsibility of a 16.2 Appointee
- Understanding the scope of delegated duties
- Limits of delegation — why the CEO remains accountable
- Responsibilities in hazard control, reporting, and supervision
- Practical drafting of a 16.2 appointment letter
- Responsibility matrix: linking duties to operational functions
Workshop: Mapping your organisation’s safety responsibility chain
Day 3: Implementing Safety Management Systems
- OHSA-aligned safety management systems: key components
- Policy development and communication strategies
- Hazard identification, risk assessment (HIRA), and control measures
- Contractor management and visitor safety responsibilities
Workshop: Developing a safety procedure for a high-risk task
Day 4: Monitoring, Auditing, and Incident Management
- Compliance audits: internal vs external
- Leading indicators vs lagging indicators in safety performance
- Incident and accident reporting procedures
- Root cause analysis and corrective action planning
- Documentation and evidence management for legal defence
Practical simulation: Conducting an incident investigation
Day 5: Leadership, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement
- Building a proactive safety culture
- Leadership behaviours that support compliance
- Effective safety communication and training strategies
- Integrating safety into operational decision-making
Group presentations: Workplace compliance action plans
Final capstone: Designing a compliance roadmap for your organization
General Notes
- The instructor led trainings are delivered using a blended learning approach and comprises of presentations, guided sessions of practical exercise, web-based tutorials and group work. Our facilitators are seasoned industry experts with years of experience, working as professional and trainers in these fields.
- The participants should be reasonably proficient in English as all facilitation and course materials will be offered in English.
- Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a certificate.
- The training will be held at Kincaid Training Centre. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments and lunch.
- All participants will additionally cater for their, travel expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.
- Accommodation and airport pickup are arranged upon request. For reservations contact the Training coordinator at Email: training@kincaiddevelopmentcenter.org or Tel: +254 724592901
- This training can also be customized to suit the needs of your institution upon request. You can have it delivered in our Kincaid Training Centre or at a convenient location.
For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254 724592901 or send mail to training@kincaiddevelopmentcenter.org
Payments are due upon registration. Payment should be sent to our Bank account before commencement of training and proof of payment sent to training@kincaiddevelopmentcenter.org