Safety Officer at Suacasa

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.