The Role of a Health and Safety Consultant

In the context of South Africa’s dynamic and often high-risk work environments—ranging from construction and mining to manufacturing and public services—the role of health and safety consultants is both vital and increasingly visible. These professionals help ensure that workplaces comply with legal requirements while fostering safer, more sustainable operations.

What is a Health and Safety Consultant?

A health and safety consultant is an independent or organisation-based expert who provides guidance on occupational health and safety (OHS) standards and practices. Their work spans a wide array of duties, from interpreting legislation to conducting risk assessments and advising on safe operational procedures.

In South Africa, this role is especially important given the regulatory framework outlined by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993) and industry-specific legislation such as the Construction Regulations, Mine Health and Safety Act, and others.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Health and safety consultants may be brought in by companies of any size to perform the following core tasks:

• Legal Compliance Support: Ensuring that workplaces align with national safety regulations and preparing documentation for inspections and audits.
• Risk Identification and Management: Performing formal hazard identification and risk assessments (HIRA) to mitigate potential workplace incidents.
• Health and Safety Planning: Developing and reviewing safety plans, procedures, and policies tailored to the organisation’s work activities and risk profile.
• Training and Awareness: Providing training to employees and management to improve safety culture and awareness of best practices.
• Incident Investigation: Assisting in investigations after incidents or near misses to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
• Contractor and Site Audits: Auditing subcontractors, suppliers, and on-site operations to assess compliance and safety performance.
• Emergency Preparedness: Advising on emergency response plans, fire safety, evacuation procedures, and first-aid readiness.

Context in South Africa

South Africa faces a variety of unique challenges when it comes to occupational health and safety. These include:

• High-risk Industries: Sectors such as construction, mining, and logistics are associated with elevated risks due to the nature of the work and equipment involved.
• Legislative Complexity: With multiple overlapping laws and amendments, companies often struggle to maintain full compliance without specialist input.
• Informal Sector Risks: Many small and informal businesses operate without dedicated health and safety personnel, making external consultancy crucial.
• Skills Development: The need for accredited training and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) has led to a growing emphasis on consultants who also offer educational services.
• Regulatory Oversight: The Department of Employment and Labour oversees compliance and can impose significant penalties for violations, driving demand for consultancy services that help avoid legal risks.

When Do Businesses Seek Health and Safety Consultants?

Businesses may engage consultants at various stages, including:

• Starting a new project or site operation
• Responding to an audit or inspection notice
• Following a workplace incident
• Preparing for certification or accreditation (e.g. ISO 45001)
• Scaling operations into higher-risk activities or environments

In many cases, organisations prefer consultants for their ability to provide objective, third-party expertise that may not be available in-house—particularly for small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

Health and safety consultants play a critical role in ensuring safe, legally compliant, and efficient work environments across South Africa. Their contribution spans technical, legal, and cultural domains, helping organisations not only prevent accidents but also build long-term resilience and accountability.

As industries evolve and regulatory expectations tighten, the value of skilled, experienced consultants will continue to grow—especially in bridging the gap between policy and practice.