Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, December 11 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Background
The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has received financing from the World Bank (WB) towards the implementation of two projects namely;
1. The Improved Rural Connectivity Project (IRCP) is being implemented in all the ten (10) provinces of Zambia. The development objective of the IRCP is to improve rural road accessibility for communities in selected areas in Zambia and to strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable management of rural roads. The project is being implemented over a period of five (5) years.

2. The Transport Corridors for Economic Resilience Project (TRACER) will focus on three (3) key regional transport corridors namely the Serenje to Mpika, Kazungula to Katima Mulilo and the Lusaka to Luangwa Roads. The project development objective is to improve efficiency, connectivity and climate resilience of key regional transport and trade corridors in Eastern and Southern Africa. The project will be implemented over a period of six (6) years.

Project Management Unit (PIU) have been established in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (MIHUD). They will be led by full-time Project coordinators and supported by a number of other key staff. The PIU will also ensure effective coordination between all the implementing agencies.

The MIHUD now wishes to engage the services of a suitably qualified candidate to fill the posts of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Specialists for IRCP and TRACER projects:
1. Duty Station: TRACER Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Ridgeway, Lusaka
: The Improved Rural Connectivity Project (IRCP) Project offices –Ridgeway Lusaka
1. Reports to: Permanent Secretary –MIHUD
2. Title: Occupational Health And Safety (OHS) Specialist (2Posts)
3. Responsible to: The Occupational Health and safety Specialist shall be responsible to the Project Coordinator and will ensure that all OHS risks and impacts are managed in accordance with national Occupational Health and Safety Policies and framework, World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF),

Objectives of the assignment:

The main objectives of the assignments, applicable to both projects on all project sites, are:
1. Introduce procedures and systems for identifying potential hazards to project workers, particularly those that may be life threatening.
2. Introduce procedures and systems for providing preventive and protective measures, including modification, substitution, or elimination of hazardous conditions or substances.
3. Help develop Safe Systems of Work as necessary
4. Support the planning, structuring and delivery of training for project workers and the maintenance of training records.
5. Document and report occupational accidents, diseases, and incidents, following World Bank reporting procedures;
6. Describe emergency prevention and preparedness and response arrangements to emergency situations;
7. Propose remedies for adverse impacts such as occupational injuries, deaths, disability, and disease; and
8. Support the development of an OHS function within the RDA and all other Ministries and Agencies undertaking activities on the TRACER Project. This will include the review and improvement of ongoing practices, procedures and documents.
The assignment will help ensure that all OHS risks and impacts are managed in accordance with national Occupational Health and Safety Policies and framework, World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), Good International Industry Practice (GIIP), and will be steered by guidance notes for borrowers and good practice notes in the context of the respective project. This includes ensuring contractors comply with these requirements and implement safe work environments and safety procedures. Working with other team members, the Occupational Health and Safety Specialists will ensure the implementation of the project’s occupational health and safety safeguards instruments, monitor compliance by project implementers and report progress. The assignment shall also ensure that community health and safety measures are in place for the IRCP and TRACER projects.

Duties
The OHS Specialist will be required to undertake the following duties:
1. Provide overall oversight, technical guidance proactive leadership and management of the projects Health and Safety hazards, risks and mitigations measures.
2. Ensure applicable Zambian laws and regulations, agreed measures and methods within the Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) of the World Bank and any agreed Good International and Industrial Practice (GIIP) are complied with.
3. Ensure the implementation and compliance of contractor OHS plans.
4. Ensure all OHS clauses relating to the project E&S mitigation and management measures are included in all contracts and the Bill of Quantity (BoQ) appraises and costs all such measures.
5. Conduct frequent inspections, monitoring and audits of the project site (s) to ensure compliance to agreed project OHS mitigation and management measures and ensure all appropriate OHS instruments (including Community Health and Safety Plans) are drafted, reviewed, cleared and implemented e,g. C-ESMPs and HSE plans. The Specialist will ensure the above measures are implemented through the Supervising Engineer/consultant and inspect and monitor equipment, work areas, facilities and work practices and procedures for compliance with ensure all provisions of the CESMPs/EPBs are implemented. The Specialist will ensure all project sites are legally compliant and recommend contractual remedies, corrective actions with timelines. The Specialist will ensure the supervising engineer is conducting its OHS responsibilities and report on any non-compliance issues.
6. Provide close oversight of borrow pits and ensure the contractors are implementing the agreed safety measures with special focus on preventing drownings during and after the rain season.
7. In collaboration with environmental and social specialists, review OHS incidents, accidents and near misses that have occurred under the project. This includes all incidents and accidents within the local community. Ensure adequate investigation to identify root causes and support the completion of the Bank’s ESIRT process.
8. Monitor and report on the effective implementation of OHS plans at the agreed time intervals agreed in the ESCP.
9. Provide internal audits on occupational health and safety issues.
10. Develop and implement capacity building activities to enhance the OHS capacity for project Consultants and Contractors including preparation and implementation of relevant training programmes.
11. Attend to other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Key Performance Indicators
The officers will have to report on the following Key Performance Indicators
Targets/Tasks (Set objectives and goals to achieve within the period)

1.1 Provide overall oversight, technical guidance proactive leadership and management of the projects Health and Safety hazards, risks and mitigations measures
. Number of completed documents on OHS requirements submitted timely to relevant authorities by the contracting entities and the project (PIU)
Frequent weekly follow ups with responsible entities.
1.2 Ensure compliance with applicable Zambian laws and regulations, and world Bank social safeguards laws and standards – Percentage compliance with applicable social safeguards laws and standards
– Number of penalties paid as a result of non-compliance with health and safety laws, regulations and procedures Annually
1.3 Ensure the implementation and compliance of contractor OHS and Community Health and Safety (CHS) plans.
– Contractors compliance rate to the provisions of the OHS and CHS plans/procedures
– Reported Incident/accident rate for the project Quarterly
1.4 Provide close oversight of borrow pits and ensure effective adherence to the provisions of the Borrow pit rehabilitation plans by the contracting entity
– Number of borrow pit management compliance visits conducted
– Percentage of adherence to the measures proposed in the borrow pit rehabilitation plans Quarterly
1.5 Provide internal audits on occupational health and safety issues.
– Number of OHS and CHS internal audits conducted
– Percentage of OHS/CHS audit compliance Quarterly
1.6 Review of OHS incidents, accidents and near misses that have occurred under the project in collaboration with the environmental and social safeguards specialists.
– Number and type of OHS/CHS occurrences reported, reviewed and investigated
– Number of incident Root Cause Analysis reports submitted by the contracting entity
– Contractors corrective action completion rate Quarterly
1.7 Review and clearance of OHS documentation prepared by the contracting entity
– Number of OHS documents reviewed
– Type of OHS documentation reviewed
– Timely review and clearance of OHS documents Quarterly
1.8 Develop and implement capacity building activities to enhance the OHS capacity for project personnel
– Number and type of OHS capacity building activities developed and implemented
– Number and percentage of trained project personnel and training hours or sessions
– Health and Safety training participation rate Annually Quarterly
1.9 Monitor and report on the effective implementation of OHS plans at the agreed time intervals agreed in the ESCP.
Number of compliance monitoring visits conducted Quarterly
1.10 Close collaboration with the social safeguard specialist and Environmental specialist to ensure timely implementation of OHS plans and activities as well as ensure a safe work environment in project sites
Frequency of joint compliance monitoring visits Quarterly
1.11 Conduct OHS compliance monitoring site visits
Number of OHS monitoring visits conducted Quarterly
1.12 Submission of Health and safety progress reports
– Number and quality of progress reports submitted
– Timely submission of progress reports Monthly

Note: These indicators might be subject to change, in mutual agreement, from time to time, and as may be initiated by the Project Coordinator. Further the Actual ratings/scores shall be agreed upon with the Project Coordinator within the first six months from the appointment date.

Required Qualifications and Experience:
• Full grade 12 School Certificate
• Minimum of a Degree in Occupational Health and Safety or equivalent.
• A relevant NEBOSH certificate/diploma or equivalent; and Membership of professional OHS bodies would be an advantage.
• A minimum of 8 years of demonstrable project experience in leading, managing OHS on large infrastructure projects
• Knowledge of OHS management systems, including experience in auditing/ assessing health and safety programs and systems.
• Experience in incident and accident investigation
• Demonstrated ability to address technical issues of occupational health and safety and to effect a cultural change to create a culture of safety across a workplace or organization.
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Proven strong writing and analytical skills
• Fluent in English
• Familiarity with the relevant Government procedures and regulations.
• Good computer skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint email and the internet.
• Good interpersonal relations.

Duration of the Assignments
Both vacancies are full – time positions on the projects with a probation period of Six (6) months. The services will initially be for a period of two (2) years but is subject to renewal based on satisfactory performance and project demands.
Subject to the selection process, the successful candidate is expected to commence work immediately.
Job Location: RidgewayTRACER Project Implementation Unit (PIU)

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 96

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Applications
Applicants who meet the above requirements should submit their application and certified copies of their certificates to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, P.O BOX 50235, Lusaka, Zambia.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 18th December, 2024.

Job Type: Full Time
Job Location: RidgewayTRACER Project Implementation Unit (PIU)


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