SHEQ MANAGER SA
Greif (Pty) Ltd.
July 2023 – Present
Location: Johannesburg (Vanderbijlpark) and Durban (Mobeni), South Africa (with regional travel to Kenya & Nigeria)
Industry: Steel Drums (Large – 210L, Small – 10L to 65L), Large Plastic Drums, and Jerry Cans
Key Responsibilities & Responsibilities:
- Drive compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to ensure a safe working environment for all employees, visitors, and stakeholders.
- Lead adherence to critical sections, including employer and employee duties, and ensure staff are familiar with regulations.
- Oversee compliance with statutory regulations, including injury/incident reporting and investigation procedures, maintaining up-to-date records of the OHS Act and ensuring legal obligations are consistently met.
- Maintain a fully functional quality management system in line with SABS audit standards,
ensuring operational excellence and continued certification.
- Develop and implement a local environmental policy in accordance with Greif's global protocols.
- Oversee factory security, including access control procedures, ensuring safety and security for all personnel.
- Manage all internal and external SHEQ audits (both scheduled and ad hoc), ensuring adherence to Greif's global quality and safety standards.
- Maintain a minimum 85% compliance rate in EMEA external safety audits.
- Participate actively in daily, weekly, and monthly operational meetings, providing critical insights on manufacturing processes, SHEQ performance, and safety measures.
Key Achievements
- ISO 9001:2015 Certification Achieved: Spearheaded efforts that led to ISO 9001:2015
certification, with no findings during the audit.
- FSSC 22000 V 5.1 Certification: Successfully led the company through the FSSC 22000 V
5.1 certification process, earning no findings during the audit.
- FSSC 22000 V6.0 – Successfully achieved certification on the first attempt, with only three minor non-conformances.
- SMETA Audit Success: Managed and led the company’s SMETA Pillar 4 audits, achieving a Green grade on the first attempt.
- Food & Occupational Safety Culture Improvement: Led initiatives that boosted employee engagement, resulting in improved workplace safety and culture.
SHEQ MANAGER
Caxtons (Pty) Ltd.
June 2022 – June 2023
Industry: Cartons & Labels (Packaging for Fast Foods and Cigarettes)
Key Responsibilities & Responsibilities:
- Developed and drove the Safety, Health, Environmental, and Quality (SHEQ) strategy for the company, working alongside senior management to ensure alignment with business objectives and industry standards.
- Oversaw compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 18001, ISO 22000, and ISO 26000
standards, ensuring the plant adhered to both regulatory and client-specific requirements.
- Implemented and monitored comprehensive occupational health, safety, ergonomics, and hygiene programs, ensuring a safe work environment through effective risk assessments,
incident investigations, and the establishment of corrective actions.
- Fostered a safety-first culture at all levels of the organization, driving continuous improvements in SHEQ performance. Facilitated regular SHEQ training and awareness programs for employees, contractors, and visitors.
- Coordinated the incident reporting and risk assessment systems, ensuring incidents were promptly investigated, and corrective actions were taken to prevent future occurrences.
- Ensured the Integrated Management System (IMS) was established, maintained, and continually improved, with regular audits and action plans to ensure compliance with ISO standards.
- Reported SHEQ performance and opportunities for improvement to top management,
ensuring the effectiveness of the IMS and alignment with organizational goals.
Key Achievements
- ISO 9001:2015 Certification: Led the company through the ISO 9001:2015 certification process within 6 months, achieving no findings during the audit.
- FSSC 22000 V5.1 Certification: Achieved FSSC 22000 V5.1 certification with only two minor maintenance findings, demonstrating strong food safety management.
- SWA Audit Success: Led the company to pass the Customer SWA (Supplier Workplace
Audit) with a Green grade, a first in company history.
- Culture Transformation: Enhanced Food Safety and Occupational Health & Safety practices, creating safer work environments and boosting employee engagement.
- Emergency & Safety Team Development: Trained key personnel, including First Aiders,
Fire Fighters, and OHS Representatives, to improve emergency response.
- Client Relationship Management: Strengthened ties with major clients (McDonald’s, KFC,
Nando’s, Spar) to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
GROUP SHEQ MANAGER
SRP Holdings (Pty) Ltd
February 2021 – May 2022
Companies Managed: Swan Salt (Johannesburg), Swan Oil (Johannesburg), Klawer Salt
Processors (Western Cape), Solar Salt (Northern Cape), Mining Pans (Western & Northern
Cape)
Products: Salt (for industrial, agricultural, and household markets) and Sunflower Oil.
Key Responsibilities & Responsibilities:
- Oversaw and implemented the SHEQ strategy across 5 plants, ensuring consistency in HSE standards across all business units.
- Led safety and health initiatives, fostering a pro-active safety culture within the organization.
- Monitored and ensured compliance with relevant legislation (e.g., ISO 14001, ISO 9001,
OHSAS 18001) and proactively managed risk assessments, accident management systems,
and environmental impact reduction strategies.
- Developed and delivered SHEQ training programs, ensuring that all employees understood their responsibilities and the systems in place.
- Led incident investigations, ensuring timely reporting, root cause analysis, and follow-up on corrective actions.
- Led internal audits and supported the implementation of OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001
standards.
- Maintained communication with key customers (e.g., McDonald’s, KFC) and suppliers
(e.g., National Brands Limited, Givaudan) to ensure adherence to safety and quality requirements.
SKILLS
QA System Implementation
Quality Management Systems (QMS)
Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS)
Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS)
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) Implementation
Food Safety Audits (Internal & External)
Supplier Quality Assurance & Audits
Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Actions (CAPA)
Non-Conformance Management & Reporting
Risk Assessment & Mitigation
Safety, Health, Environmental, and
Quality (SHEQ) Audits
SOP Development & Standardization
Internal & External Auditing (AIB, FSSC, HACCP)
Regulatory Compliance (SHEQ & Food Safety)
Product Specification Development & Control
Traceability & Recall Systems Management
Incident Investigation & Corrective Action Plans
Environmental Sustainability & Waste Management
Process Optimization & Lean Manufacturing
Team Management, Training & Development
Continuous Improvement Methodologies (Six Sigma, Kaizen)
Document Control & Record Keeping (IMS, QMS, FSMS)
Key Achievements
- Injury Reduction: Reduced Injuries on Duty (IOD) through enhanced risk assessments,
safety systems, and staff engagement in safety programs.
- Training & Development: Trained First Aiders, Fire Fighters, and OHS Representatives across multiple sites, strengthening emergency response capabilities.
- Near Miss Program: Implemented a Near Miss Trend system to proactively identify and address potential safety risks before incidents occurred.
- Internal Audits & Risk Assessments: Led internal audits in Risk Assessments, Process
Hazard Identification, and Safety Management Systems, driving safety improvements across the group.
- FSSC 22000 Certification for Swan Oil: Achieved FSSC 22000 certification for Swan Oil with just 3 days of audit preparation, ensuring compliance with global food safety standards.
- Leadership of Food Safety Teams: Led Food Safety Teams for sister companies,
fostering a culture of food safety across all operations.
- Internal Auditing Leadership: Conducted internal audits for VACCP, TACCP, HACCP,
GMP, ISO 22000, and QMS systems, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement.
- Supplier Audit Preparation: Prepared the factory for a leading supplier audit (SQMS
Audit), ensuring readiness for stringent supplier requirements.
SHEQ MANAGER | QA MANAGER
Brand Club (Pty) Ltd / O’Yeah Sweets (Pty) Ltd
March 2019 – February 2021
Products: Gummy Jelly Sweets (Toros) & Chews (O'Yeah Sweets)
Key Responsibilities & Responsibilities:
- Led the overall management of SHEQ activities, ensuring strict compliance with health,
safety, and environmental regulations across manufacturing operations.
- Spearheaded accident prevention programs, conducted risk assessments, and led incident investigations, implementing corrective actions to minimize workplace injuries.
- Introduced 5S principles to enhance workplace organization, safety, and efficiency.
Trained First Aiders, Fire Fighters, and OHS Representatives to strengthen emergency response capabilities.
- Conducted comprehensive internal SHEQ audits (including Risk Assessments and
Process Hazard Identification), ensuring compliance with ISO 22000, HACCP, and other industry standards.
- Developed and implemented ISO 22000 and HACCP systems, achieving zero major nonconformities for two consecutive years.
- Partnered with key customers (e.g., McDonald’s, KFC) to ensure product quality met or exceeded their specifications and standards.
- Led internal audits for food safety systems (VACCP, TACCP, HACCP, GMP), ensuring continuous compliance and high standards in food safety.
- Led Food Safety Teams to drive ongoing improvements in food safety practices,
enhancing product quality and food-grade safety.
- Identified team training needs and provided ongoing technical support to ensure full compliance with quality assurance and food safety standards.
- Introduced food-grade designed PPE, reinforcing hygiene and safety standards within the production environment
Key Achievements
- Injury Reduction: Reduced Injuries on Duty (IOD) through robust safety measures,
training programs, and regular risk assessments.
- 5S Implementation: Introduced and successfully implemented the 5S methodology,
improving workplace safety and operational efficiency.
- Near Miss Reduction: Led initiatives to identify and resolve potential hazards,
significantly reducing Near Miss incidents before escalation.
- Safety Team Development: Appointed and trained First Aiders, Fire Fighters, and OHS
Representatives, enhancing emergency response capabilities across the group.
- ISO 22000 & HACCP Certification: Achieved ISO 22000 and HACCP certification for two consecutive years, maintaining zero major non-conformities.
- Leadership in Food Safety: Led Food Safety Teams to drive continuous improvements and ensure adherence to food safety protocols across all operations.
- Internal Audit Leadership: Led audits for VACCP, TACCP, HACCP, GMP, and ISO 22000,
ensuring compliance and prompt corrective actions.
- Enhanced PPE Standards: Introduced food-grade PPE across production areas,
maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring safety in food product handling.
QC TECHNICIAN - TEAM LEADER / SUPERVISOR
National Brands Limited, Willards
March 2015 – February 2019
Products: Potato Chips Snacks.
Key Responsibilities & Responsibilities:
- Led quality assurance programs for product, equipment, and operating procedures,
ensuring compliance with corporate and regulatory standards, which maintained high product quality and food safety across operations.
- Supervised a team of Quality Control (QC) technicians, overseeing daily production operations to ensure adherence to food safety and quality standards, effectively managing the team to prevent non-conformance.
- Developed and maintained the non-conformance system, ensuring real-time updates and prompt corrective actions, which helped maintain product consistency and reduce production inefficiencies.
- Implemented product quality improvement initiatives, including plant trials, HACCP,
and ISO projects, driving continuous improvements in product quality and operational processes.
- Managed testing and approval of incoming raw materials, such as grits, maize, and flavourings, ensuring raw materials met quality standards before use and contributing to enhanced product consistency.
- Conducted on-line quality control checks, including monitoring salt content and moisture levels of both in-process and finished products, ensuring compliance with product specifications.
- Coordinated taste panels with cross-functional teams to evaluate product quality and new R&D developments, providing valuable feedback for successful product releases and customer satisfaction.
Key Achievements
- Led QA programs ensuring compliance with HACCP, ISO, and corporate standards,
maintaining high product quality and safety.
- Supervised QC team, reducing non-conformance through improved process control and oversight.
- Developed a real-time non-conformance system, cutting issue response times and improving efficiency.
- Improved raw material approval processes, enhancing consistency of final product batches.
- Conducted plant trials and quality projects, driving continuous improvement and cost efficiency.
- Performed in-process checks (e.g., salt, moisture), reducing rework and maintaining product standards.
- Coordinated taste panels supporting R&D and successful product launches.
QUALITY CONTROLLER
Coca-Cola Canners of Southern Africa
June 2013 – February 2015 (In-Service Training & Contract Extension)
Products: Carbonated Drinks, PET Hot-filled Products, Prepared Water, Juices.
Key Responsibilities & Responsibilities:
- Performed quality control inspections and analyses of incoming raw materials, CIP water samples, and finished products, ensuring compliance with company and regulatory standards.
- Monitored and controlled critical control points (CCPs) across the production line,
ensuring all processes met safety and quality standards for carbonated and noncarbonated beverages.
- Carried out microbiological testing of raw materials and finished products, using methods such as pour plate and membrane filtration, to maintain high safety standards and prevent contamination.
- Managed calibration and verification of laboratory equipment, ensuring accurate testing of product attributes like pH, turbidity, and CO₂ content, supporting consistent product quality.
- Led troubleshooting and root cause analysis for non-conformance issues and customer complaints, ensuring swift corrective actions and minimizing disruptions to production.
- Ensured adherence to ISO standards (9001, 14001, 22000) and HACCP, actively participating in internal audits and supporting the implementation of quality management and food safety systems.
- Assisted in product development and sensory evaluations, providing critical feedback during product trials and new line approvals, ensuring the final product met quality expectations.
Key Achievements
- Ensured product safety and compliance by performing quality inspections and microbiological testing across raw materials, water, and finished goods.
- Maintained product consistency by calibrating lab equipment and verifying critical parameters (pH, turbidity, CO₂).
- Strengthened food safety by monitoring CCPs and adhering to HACCP and ISO (9001,
14001, 22000) standards.
- Resolved quality issues swiftly through root cause analysis, minimizing production downtime and improving customer satisfaction.
- Supported product development and sensory testing, contributing to successful new product launches.
- Actively participated in internal audits and system improvements, reinforcing the site’s quality and environmental compliance
