Occupational Health Manager

SUMMARY:
The Occupational Health Manager oversees the occupational health function, as well as any related programs and services. The incumbent develops strategies, plans, and policies in collaboration with the Business SHERQ Manager.

POSITION INFO:

Key performance area

1. Provide efficient medical assessments and medical surveillance programs to enable the effective execution of an occupational health and wellness service to employees.

• Oversee the management of the medical surveillance program in line with business occupational health program, which is required for the company to meet its objectives. Ensuring compliance to legislation and 100% completion of periodic medical surveillance.
• Provide efficient chronic disease management to employees including support. Correlate exposure to workplace health hazards and determines the impact on chronic illnesses and special needs of employee.
• Perform statistical analysis of site occupational health status and sick leave. Collaborate with HR and head of department in resolving issues relating to medical incapacitation as per medical review process.
• Manage and oversee the pre-employment and exit medical assessment process. Provide on time feedback on the suitability and fitness for the employment of employees based on the Occupational Risk Exposure Profile (OREP).
• Conduct physical assessments to diagnose common medical conditions and chronic ill health presented at the occupational health facility.
• Conduct trend analysis of Medical Surveillance and Primary Health Care and provide feedback and recommendations to management.
• Apply critical thinking skills and creative problem-solving analysis in making clinical decisions.

2.Compliance to legal requirements and standards

• Manage the business periodic occupational health surveys including the and health risk assessment study process. Communicate outcomes with head of department and ensure that mitigating measures are provided and implemented for identified high risks and areas exceeding occupational exposures limits.
• Manage employee medical files in accordance with confidentiality legal compliance and maintain the confidentiality of the test results, ensuring that they are not disclosed without the consent of the employee concerned.
• Oversee the dispensing and management of medicines and ensuring that medicines are only dispensed by a person who are licensed in terms of Section 22C of the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965.
• Ensure compliance to COIDA requirements and file worker’s compensation claim under COIDA on time in line with procedures for submitting claims under COIDA.
• Implement, monitor, and review a hearing conservation programme for employees working at high noise areas eg. Sand blasting.
• Oversee and manage the review of compiled occupational risk and exposure profiling (person-job specifications) together with area managers to ensure compliance and employees are fitness to work in assigned areas.
• Participate in internal and external audits, Manage departmental NCs on electronic document management system (EDMS), ensuring that accurate evidence is captured, and following concession process where required.

3. Continuous improvement of the quality of occupational health services provided to employees.

• Lead and drive monthly educational awareness campaigns on Occupational Health Services programmes and road shows. E.g. Ergonomics, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, Fatigue Management, Drug abuse, etc.
• Develop and maintain required procedures in line with company policies and procedures.
• Monitor employee sick leave and assess employee fit for duty status before employee resumes normal duties.
• Manage return to work, rehabilitation and reintegration processes for employees (Temporary boarded, and pregnant).
• Collaborate with the designated medical doctor for the management of employee fitness to work.
• Validate the diagnosis with the employee and, where required with company doctor and other professionals and where legally indicated with the employer, while maintaining confidentiality.
• Participate in both internal and external audits. Oversee the development of action plans to close audit non-conformances and non-compliances.
• Initiate, develop, and implement policies applicable to the occupational health practice.
• Oversee the management and escalation of employees to ICAS.

4. General employee management and medical centre budget management.

• Manage budget for the assigned Cost Centre and report on variances.
• Manage and coordinate payment of the company doctor in line with service agreement contract and hours per month.
• Manage required resources in line with cost management requirements and processes to ensure adequate services are provided to employees.
• Track and monitor medicine stock in line with budget, account for deviations.
• Provide effective leadership and management of direct reports in order to meet company objectives. Evaluate the performance of all subordinates as per performance management system set by the company.
• Manage conflicts within the workplace and ensure discipline is maintained (absenteeism, time management, overtime, misconduct, etc.)

5. Related SHERQ responsibilities

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

• Understanding of Occupational Health and Safety Act with Regulations.
• Understanding of Medicines and Related Substances Act, No.101 of 1965
• Understanding of National Health Act, No.61 of 2003
• Understanding of Pharmacy Act, No.53 of 1974
• Understanding of Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993, COIDA
• Understanding of South African Bureau of Standards'' Code of Practice for the Measurement and Assessment of Occupational Noise for Hearing Conservation Purposes, SANS 10083:2004
• Knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Experience in writing reports and procedures for occupational health.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Apply critical thinking skills and creative problem-solving analysis in making clinical decisions.
• Influencing and collaboration skills
• Time management, planning, leading and organizational abilities
• Detail orientated and ability to multitask.
• Capable of working under pressure and within a team.
• Independent, proactive thinking, motivated and have the ability to do own job planning.
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal, strong communication and diplomacy skills
• Computer literacy in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
• Care and demonstrate excellent support
• High level of integrity and demonstrate compliance with patient confidentiality.
• Judgement, decision making and proactive.
• Networking and collaboration.
• Self-motivated, energetic, and positive
• Good team player, yet can also work independently
• Reliable / responsible / dependable / trustworthy
• Focus on best business practice and ethics

Experience

• Minimum 5 years Occupational Health experience in Chemical Manufacturing Environment.
• Minimum 5 years in Emergency care experience
• Minimum 3 years in managing incapacity and disability cases and medical surveillance programs.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational health nursing OR similar.
• Basic life support certificate.
• Registered with South African Nursing council (SANC).
• Registered with South African Society of Occupational Health Nursing Practitioners (SASOHN).
• Qualified in Spirometry, Audiometry.
• Occupational Vision Screening.
• Legal Dispensing certificate.
• Valid SANC Registration.
• Valid SASOHN Registration.

Reporting structure:
This position reports to the Business SHERQ Manager.

Personal Circumstances:

• Must be able to obtain a satisfactory medical report from the companies’ medical centre.
• May be required to be on Standby.

Other requirements:
Please ensure:

• That the application form is fully completed and attached with your CV.
• That the reference number and/or position name of this advertisement is quoted on your application form.
• That recently certified copies of all qualifications referred to on your application form and cv, are submitted.
• Applications can be handed in at the HR offices on or before the closing date.
• Only applications that are submitted to HR directly will be considered.

External Applicants:
Please attach a copy of your most recent payslip. We regret we cannot consider any applications received without this information.

Failure to comply with the above requirements will result in your application being disqualified.

Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply, should the applicant be successful the incumbent will be reasonably accommodated depending on the inherent requirements of the job.

All applicants are thanked in advance for showing interest however correspondences will only be entered into with the shortlisted candidates.

Closing date: 27 March 2025
CV’s to be sent to:
Recruitment for this position will be conducted with the intention progressing our Employment Equity policy, targets, and objectives. The Company reserves the right not to fill this position.