Compliance FAQs

A hazard is anything that can cause injury, illness, property damage, or environmental harm.

Examples: Wet floors, Exposed wiring, Chemicals, Unprotected machinery, Working at heights, etc.

OHSA places a duty on employers to identify and control workplace hazards.

Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of that harm.

Example:

Hazard: Oil spill on floor.

Risk: An employee slipping and sustaining injuries.

A systematic process used to:

• Identify hazards.
• Evaluate risks.
• Implement control measures.

e.g.: Before replacing electrical equipment, hazards such as electrocution, falls, and confined-space risks are evaluated.

General Safety Regulations require risk evaluations for workplace activities.

Compliance should not be treated as a paperwork exercise or a once-a-year activity.

A practical approach includes:

1. Understand legal requirements.
2. Identify workplace hazards.
3. Conduct risk assessments.
4. Develop safe work procedures.
5. Train employees.
6. Monitor compliance.
7. Investigate incidents.
8. Conduct audits and inspections.
9. Review performance regularly.
10. Continuously improve the system.

A successful organisation integrates Health and Safety into everyday operations rather than treating it as a separate function.

Management should:

• Conduct safety walkabouts
• Attend safety meetings
• Participate in investigations
• Allocate adequate resources
• Set measurable safety objectives
• Lead by example
• Hold managers accountable

A strong safety culture begins with visible leadership commitment.

Under the OHSA, employers have overall responsibility for ensuring a safe working environment.

The first step is identifying all applicable legislation and legal requirements.

This is typically achieved through a:

Legal Compliance Register

The register identifies applicable:

• Occupational Health and Safety Act requirements
• Industry-specific regulations
• Environmental legislation
• Municipal requirements
• Client contractual obligations

Without a legal register, it is difficult to demonstrate compliance.

SETA alignment relates to sector-specific unit standards and skills levies, while QCTO (Quality Council for Trades and Occupations) alignment relates to full occupational qualifications. Depending on your goals, we’ll advise on the right path as part of our SETA compliance FAQ guidance.

That depends on your client and contractual requirements. Many organisations build an ISO 45001-aligned management system for genuine risk reduction first, then pursue formal third-party certification once the system is operating consistently.

Consultants typically assist with:

1. Gap Analysis
2. System Development
3. Risk Assessment Reviews
4. Legal Compliance Reviews
5. Training and Awareness
6. Internal Audits
7. Management Reviews
8. Certification Audit Preparation

The goal is to build a functioning management system rather than simply obtaining a certificate.

Renewal periods vary by programme and legal requirement. As a general practice, most fire and emergency response training should be refreshed annually, with broader OHS competency reviewed as your risk profile or regulations change.

Yes. Our consulting engagements include readiness reviews that check your documentation, training records and site controls against what an inspector or auditor would expect to see.

Yes — many organisations run these in parallel since the systems share common structure under the ISO high-level framework. Combining them can reduce duplication in documentation and internal audits.

Our core focus is South Africa, but our leadership’s international experience means we can support organisations with cross-border operations. Get in touch to discuss your specific requirements.

Consultants are particularly valuable when:

• Establishing a new business.
• Tendering for contracts.
• Preparing for ISO certification.
• Responding to incidents.
• Implementing legal compliance programmes.
• Entering high-risk industries.
• Lacking in-house expertise.

Yes. As an agile provider, we scale our engagement to your size and budget, whether that’s a single training session or a full management system build.

A good consultant helps organisations:

• Reduce injuries.
• Reduce downtime.
• Improve employee morale.
• Improve operational efficiency.
• Enhance client confidence.
• Strengthen tender competitiveness.
• Improve regulatory relationships.
• Develop a positive safety culture.

The best consultants focus on practical business improvement, not just compliance documentation.