Closing Date: 19 June 2026
Purpose:
The Ergonomist at SafetyCloud (SafetySA) plays a pivotal role in delivering specialized occupational health and safety consultancy services across diverse industrial and corporate sectors. Functioning as a competent person under Regulation 1 of the South African Ergonomics Regulations, the incumbent is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating physical, cognitive, and organizational ergonomic risks for our clients. The primary objective of this role is to assist employers in achieving compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), optimizing workplace efficiency, reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and cognitive fatigue, and fostering safer, more productive work environments through scientifically backed human factors engineering.
Responsibilities:
1. Ergonomics Risk Assessments & Compliance
- Conduct comprehensive Ergonomic Risk Assessments (ERAs) in strict accordance with Regulation 6 of the Ergonomics Regulations across varied client environments (including mining, manufacturing, logistics, and office spaces).
- Utilize and interpret validated ergonomic assessment methodologies and tools including RULA, REBA, the NIOSH Lifting Equation, and anthropometric analysis.
- Evaluate workplace setups, tool designs, and vehicle configurations to ensure optimal physical alignment and human-machine interaction.
- Assess cognitive workload, fatigue risk factors, and information processing demands to minimize human error in high-stakes operational environments.
2. Risk Control & Intervention Design
- Formulate and recommend practical engineering, administrative, and design control measures based on the Hierarchy of Controls and Regulation 7 requirements.
- Collaborate with client engineering, operations, and management teams to integrate ergonomic principles into the procurement of machinery, tools, and office furniture.
- Conduct workplace optimizations focusing on organizational factors, including shift work impacts, work-rest schedules, and psychosocial risk interactions.
3. Ergonomics Programme Development & Management
- Partner with clients to develop, implement, and maintain structured Ergonomics Management Programmes.
- Establish internal employee reporting systems for early identification of ergonomic discomfort or signs of musculoskeletal strain.
- Provide technical support and subject matter expertise during incident investigations where human factors or physical strain are suspected root causes.
- Assist in setting up and guiding client Ergonomics Committees to drive internal ownership of safety programs.
4. Training, Awareness & Capacity Building
- Develop and deliver tailored ergonomics awareness campaigns and task-specific training sessions for both client management teams and shop-floor employees.
- Translate complex biomechanical and cognitive human-factors data into clear, actionable safety practices for diverse workforces.
- Keep up to date with professional standards, representing SafetyCloud’s commitment to scientific integrity through ongoing alignment with the Ergonomics Society of South Africa (ESSA).
5. Monitoring & Reporting
- Design and track monitoring systems to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of implemented ergonomic control measures.
- Compile highly technical, professional consulting reports for client leadership, providing clear risk ratings, legislative gap analyses, and prioritized action plans.
Qualifications:
- Postgraduate qualification in Ergonomics or Human Factors.
- Formal ergonomics training aligned with:
- Physical ergonomics
- Cognitive ergonomics
- Organisational ergonomics
- Biomechanics
- Anthropometry
- Ergonomics risk assessment methodologies
- Professional Registration. Be registered as:
- CPR (Certified Professional Ergonomist) or
- CEA (Certified Ergonomics Associate)
- Maintain good standing with the relevant professional body such as the Ergonomics Society of South Africa (or an IEA-aligned certification body)
- Demonstrate competence as contemplated under Regulation 1 of the Ergonomics Regulations regarding a “competent person.”
- Demonstrate familiarity with Occupational Health and Safety Act and it regulations.
Experience:
- Minimum 2–3 years ergonomics assessment experience under supervision of a senior ergonomist preferably in the following fields:
- Mining
- Manufacturing
- Warehousing
- Construction
- Transport and logistics
- Healthcare
- Laboratories
- Telecommunications
- Energy/utilities
- Office and administrative environments
Skills:
Knowledge and competencies:
- Physical Ergonomics such as: Manual handling assessments, Postural analysis, Repetitive movement analysis, Force analysis, Anthropometry, Seating assessments, Tool evaluation, Vehicle ergonomics.
- Cognitive Ergonomics such as: Human-machine interaction, Cognitive workload analysis, Fatigue risk factors, Attention and information processing demands.
- Organisational Ergonomics such as: Shift work assessment, Work-rest scheduling, Workload allocation, Psychosocial risk interaction, Workflow optimisation.
Required Assessment Methodologies:
The ergonomist should be competent in recognised assessment tools and methodologies including, where applicable:
- RULA
- REBA
- NIOSH Lifting Equation
- Anthropometric analysis
- Office ergonomics assessment tools
- Cognitive workload tools
- Fatigue assessment methods
Other:
- High degree of professional ethics and values aligned with:
- Integrity
- Courage
- Care
- Passion
- Innovation
- Accountability
- Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates
