Safety Officer
full-time
Department: Projects / Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)
Reports To: Project Manager / Head of Projects
Job Summary
The Safety Officer will be responsible for promoting a strong safety culture, identifying and controlling workplace hazards, enforcing safe work practices, and ensuring compliance with the company's HSE policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
The role requires regular presence on construction sites and the ability to take immediate action where unsafe practices or conditions are identified.
Key Responsibilities
Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance:
Implement and monitor compliance with Suacasa's HSE policies, procedures, and site safety requirements.
Ensure construction activities comply with applicable Nigerian health and safety regulations and industry best practices.
Conduct regular site inspections to identify unsafe conditions, practices, and potential hazards.
Recommend and implement appropriate corrective and preventive measures.
Ensure safety requirements are addressed prior to the commencement of new activities or work processes.
Risk Assessment & Hazard Management:
Conduct and maintain risk assessments for construction activities and site work areas.
Identify hazards associated with equipment, materials, working at height, electrical installations, excavations, lifting operations, hot works, and other high-risk tasks.
Ensure approved control measures are executed and maintained.
Update risk assessments whenever work activities, site conditions, or equipment change.
Monitor overall compliance with approved risk mitigation plans.
Site Safety Supervision:
Conduct daily and periodic safety walk-throughs across project sites.
Ensure all workers use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Monitor the safe operation of tools, machinery, scaffolding, ladders, electrical setups, and construction machinery.
Ensure proper housekeeping and secure storage of construction materials.
Supervise site access and traffic movement within active zones.
Stop or escalate unsafe work where there is an immediate threat to life, health, or property.
Toolbox Talks & Safety Training:
Conduct regular toolbox talks and safety briefings.
Provide comprehensive safety induction for new employees, contractors, artisans, and site personnel.
Educate the workforce on site-specific hazards and necessary safety precautions.
Promote awareness of emergency procedures, PPE use, safe work methods, and incident reporting channels.
Maintain complete records of training sessions and attendance.
Incident & Accident Management:
Respond immediately to workplace accidents, injuries, near misses, and safety incidents.
Conduct preliminary investigations and thoroughly document findings.
Identify root causes and recommend actionable corrective and preventive measures.
Maintain an up-to-date incident and near-miss register.
Track the implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence and immediately escalate serious occurrences to management.
Emergency Preparedness:
Develop and maintain site emergency response plans in collaboration with management.
Ensure emergency exits, access ways, fire extinguishers, first-aid stations, and emergency supplies remain accessible and fully operational.
Coordinate and conduct routine emergency drills.
Ensure workers understand emergency evacuation and response procedures.
Liaise with external emergency services when required.
Contractor & Subcontractor Safety:
Supervise contractors and subcontractors to ensure adherence to company safety rules.
Verify contractor safety documentation prior to authorizing high-risk work.
Conduct contractor safety inductions and compliance checks.
Report persistent or serious violations to management and recommend enforcement actions.
PPE Management:
Specify correct PPE requirements based on specific task risks.
Supervise the proper wear, condition, and maintenance of PPE on site.
Identify and report shortages, misuse, or non-compliance, ensuring immediate replacement of damaged gear.
Safety Documentation & Reporting:
Maintain accurate HSE logs, inspection checklists, incident files, training registers, risk assessments, and action trackers.
Prepare periodic HSE performance reports for management review.
Follow up on open corrective actions until formal closeout.
Maintain compliance documentation for internal and external regulatory review.
Offer practical recommendations to improve organizational safety performance.
Environmental & Housekeeping Monitoring:
Oversee proper sorting, handling, and disposal of construction waste.
Champion clean, hazard-free housekeeping across work zones.
Identify and remediate environmental hazards, including chemical spills, dust, excessive noise, and improper material storage.
Implement practices that minimize environmental harm arising from construction operations.
Safety Culture & Continuous Improvement:
Foster a proactive, open safety culture across all site operations.
Encourage workers and subcontractors to proactively report hazards and near misses.
Analyze recurring safety concerns to implement systemic improvements.
Keep abreast of evolving safety standards, industry trends, and statutory requirements.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
HSE Compliance Rate: Adherence level to company policies, procedures, and safety rules.
Site Inspection Completion: Percentage of planned inspections carried out and documented.
Hazard Identification & Closure: Timely remediation and closeout of identified hazards.
Incident & Accident Rate: Minimization/reduction of preventable workplace injuries and near misses.
Safety Training Compliance: Induction coverage for new staff, artisans, and contractors.
PPE Compliance: Consistent, correct use of required PPE across site activities.
Toolbox Talk Compliance: Frequency and consistency of conducted safety briefings.
Emergency Preparedness: Functionality of emergency gear and drill execution.
Contractor Safety Compliance: Adherence rates among third-party vendors and subcontractors.
Safety Reporting: Accuracy and timeliness of HSE reports and incident documentation.
Safety Culture: Demonstrated growth in hazard reporting and safety ownership across sites.
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor's Degree, HND, or equivalent in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Health, Safety Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
2 - 4 years of relevant HSE experience, preferably within construction, civil engineering, or real estate development.
Proven hands-on construction site experience is strongly preferred.
Relevant professional HSE certifications (e.g., NEBOSH, IOSH, or equivalent) are an advantage.
Sound knowledge of Nigerian occupational safety and health regulations.
Willingness to be based primarily on construction sites and travel between active project locations.
Personal Attributes:
Vigilant, assertive, safety-conscious, proactive, responsible, disciplined, and professional.
Capable of challenging unsafe practices firmly yet respectfully, with the confidence to escalate critical risks to leadership.
Working Conditions:
Primarily field- and site-based on active construction sites.
Involves regular physical movement in outdoor and demanding environments.
Occasional work outside standard hours depending on project schedules or emergencies.
Mandatory compliance with all site PPE and safety protocols at all times.
Key Competencies:
Technical Competencies:
Strong knowledge of construction health and safety practices and safe systems of work.
Competence in hazard identification, risk assessment, and incident investigation.
Solid understanding of emergency response planning, site equipment, and PPE standards.
Practical ability to lead toolbox talks, safety inductions, and site audits.
Good working knowledge of Nigerian HSE legislation and statutory codes.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and technical report writing.
Behavioural Competencies:
High level of vigilance and attention to detail.
Assertive communication with the ability to firmly enforce safety rules.
Sound decision-making and problem-solving skills under pressure.
High integrity, accountability, and ability to work independently.
Calm composure during emergency situations.
Strong interpersonal skills to influence workers and contractors positively.