Tjeka and MBAWC develop competent H&S officers

Young adults are pursuing careers as construction Health and Safety (H&S) Officers. They are being drawn to the profession because they want to make a large positive impact on site operations, employee well-being and the overall success of construction projects.

These professionals also hold a Quality Council of Trades and Occupation (QCTO) occupational qualification in the field. This signals to employers that they have the extensive knowledge needed to ensure high H&S levels on construction sites.

This quality H&S training is being facilitated by Master Builders Association Western Cape (MBAWC). To ensure that learners are equipped with the correct theoretical knowledge and workplace training experience, MBAWC has engaged the services of Tjeka Training Matters, considering the high quality of our building and civil construction training.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, the programme has been administered by Benjamin Zantsi, a seasoned Training Facilitator at MBAWC. Under Benjamin’s watch, more than 20 young adults have already successfully attained an occupational qualification in the field at a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4.

Current learners are working towards attaining an occupational qualification in H&S at a NQF Level 5. This is in line with the QCTO’s reclassification of qualifications to better reflect the required skills and knowledge for specific professions.

They will write examinations in November 2025 and will, therefore, be the first cohort to attain a NQF 5 qualification in H&S via the association.

As part of the experiential learning component, learners also have the opportunity to “shadow” seasoned H&S Officers on MBAWC member construction sites. WBHO, Stefanutti Stocks and Isipani Construction are among the companies providing experiential learning opportunities to learners. This is complemented by robust mentorship provided by both Tjeka Training Matters and MBAWC, which also has psychosocial programme for learners.