Ensuring compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act in South Africa is not just a legal obligation—it’s a crucial part of maintaining a safe, productive, and legally sound workplace. With the help of tools like Ariscu’s Health and Safety Inspections and Audits platform, businesses can streamline their compliance processes, reduce risks, and ensure that every aspect of their safety management system meets regulatory standards.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the OHS Act compliance checklist for South Africa, including essential components like risk assessment checklists, legal appointments, contractor management, and HSE audits. We’ll also explain how Ariscu simplifies compliance for companies across industries.
Understanding OHS Act Compliance in South Africa
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993) aims to ensure that every employer provides a work environment that is safe and without risk to employee health. Compliance is mandatory for all businesses operating in South Africa, regardless of size or industry.
OHS compliance involves identifying hazards, implementing controls, training employees, and keeping accurate records of all health and safety procedures. However, achieving full compliance requires more than just good intentions—it requires structured systems, regular audits, and reliable data management.
That’s where the OHS Act compliance checklist South Africa becomes indispensable. It provides a systematic way to evaluate and track your compliance efforts.
Why You Need an OHS Act Compliance Checklist in South Africa
A compliance checklist is more than a formality; it’s an operational tool that helps ensure continuous improvement in workplace safety. Here’s why it matters:
- Legal Protection – The checklist helps you stay aligned with South African OHS regulations, minimizing the risk of fines, penalties, or legal claims.
- Employee Safety – A proactive approach prevents accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
- Reputation and Trust – A company known for prioritizing safety earns trust from clients, employees, and contractors.
- Audit Readiness – Regular checklist reviews prepare you for inspections and audits by the Department of Employment and Labour.
- Operational Efficiency – With digital solutions like Ariscu’s compliance management system, you can automate record-keeping and reporting.
The Key Components of an OHS Act Compliance Checklist South Africa
A comprehensive checklist ensures you don’t overlook critical compliance areas. Let’s explore each major component.
1. Legal Appointments in South Africa (Legal Appointments SA)
South African law requires specific legal appointments under the OHS Act to ensure accountability for health and safety responsibilities. These include roles such as:
- CEO (Section 16(1)) – Overall accountability for compliance.
- Appointed 16(2) Persons – Delegated individuals responsible for operational safety.
- Safety Officers and Representatives – Oversee safety activities and incident reporting.
- Competent Persons – Handle specialized safety functions, like electrical or pressure systems.
Documenting and updating these appointments is essential. Using Ariscu’s compliance platform, companies can manage these appointments digitally, ensuring every role is filled and responsibilities are traceable.
2. Occupational Health and Safety Checklist South Africa
An occupational health and safety checklist is a broader tool that assesses how well your organization’s safety management system aligns with the OHS Act. It typically covers:
- Policy and objectives – Existence of a formal OHS policy.
- Hazard identification – Regular inspections and documentation.
- Employee training – Evidence of induction and refresher programs.
- Emergency procedures – Fire drills, evacuation plans, and first aid readiness.
- Incident reporting – Proper systems for investigating and recording workplace incidents.
Ariscu’s digital inspection modules allow you to create and manage these checklists with automated reminders and evidence tracking.
3. Risk Assessment Checklist South Africa (Risk Assessment Checklist SA)
Risk assessments are at the heart of the OHS Act. The risk assessment checklist ensures that all hazards are identified, analyzed, and controlled.
It should include:
- Task analysis and associated risks.
- Control measures (engineering, administrative, PPE).
- Frequency of risk reassessment.
- Record of implemented controls.
Ariscu enables organizations to perform digital risk assessments, attach photographic evidence, and track corrective actions in real-time.
4. Contractor Checklist South Africa (Contractor Checklist SA)
Contractors and subcontractors must comply with your safety standards. A contractor checklist verifies that external workers understand and follow site safety rules.
This checklist should cover:
- Valid OHS documentation (COID registration, medicals, training records).
- Proof of induction and competency.
- PPE compliance.
- Incident reporting procedures.
With Ariscu, you can automate contractor pre-qualification and monitor compliance throughout project lifecycles, ensuring no contractor poses unnecessary risk to your operations.
5. HSE Audit Checklist South Africa
Regular HSE audits (Health, Safety, and Environment) are essential for ensuring compliance and continual improvement. A typical HSE audit checklist evaluates:
- Policy and management systems.
- Legal registers and updates.
- Risk control effectiveness.
- Record-keeping and training evidence.
- Environmental management integration.
Ariscu’s Health and Safety Inspections and Audits module simplifies the audit process by providing preloaded templates aligned with South African OHS legislation and ISO standards.
How to Use an OHS Act Compliance Checklist
To maximize effectiveness, your checklist should be part of a continuous improvement cycle:
- Plan – Identify what needs to be checked and who will be responsible.
- Do – Conduct inspections and document findings.
- Check – Review non-conformities and assign corrective actions.
- Act – Implement improvements and re-audit to verify compliance.
Ariscu’s system supports this cycle by integrating audit scheduling, corrective action tracking, and analytics dashboards—all within one cloud-based platform.
Benefits of Digital OHS Act Compliance Management
Paper-based checklists are prone to errors and delays. A digital OHS compliance platform, like Ariscu’s, offers several advantages:
- Centralized Data Management – Store all safety documents and checklists in one location.
- Real-Time Tracking – Monitor compliance status across sites.
- Automated Reminders – Never miss inspections, risk reviews, or legal updates.
- Customizable Templates – Align with South African laws and your internal policies.
- Audit Readiness – Generate instant reports for inspectors or management.
These capabilities make compliance more transparent and measurable—two key factors in maintaining safety excellence.
Integration with Other Compliance Functions
OHS compliance doesn’t exist in isolation. It connects closely with environmental management, quality control, and corporate governance.
Through Ariscu’s Company Legal Compliance platform, businesses can integrate their OHS Act requirements with broader compliance obligations, such as:
- Environmental legislation.
- Employment equity and skills development.
- ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards.
This holistic approach ensures all aspects of business compliance are interconnected and managed effectively.
FAQs
What is an OHS Act compliance checklist in South Africa?
It’s a structured tool that helps businesses assess and ensure their operations comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act’s legal requirements.
How often should companies audit against the OHS Act in South Africa?
Companies should conduct audits at least annually, but high-risk industries often perform quarterly or biannual reviews for continuous compliance.
How does Ariscu provide templates and evidence tracking for OHS compliance in South Africa?
Ariscu offers digital OHS templates, real-time tracking, and automated evidence collection through its integrated inspection and audit management system.
Conclusion
Compliance with the OHS Act compliance checklist South Africa is essential for maintaining a safe, legally compliant workplace. By leveraging digital solutions like Ariscu’s Health and Safety Inspections and Audits platform, businesses can automate compliance tasks, streamline legal appointments, and ensure all risk assessments and contractor checklists meet national standards.
Whether you’re managing legal appointments in SA, conducting risk assessments, or performing HSE audits, Ariscu helps you stay on top of every compliance requirement efficiently and accurately.
Visit Ariscu’s Health and Safety Inspections and Audits page to learn how your business can simplify OHS compliance and create a safer workplace for everyone.
