Choosing the right OHS compliance partner is one of the most important decisions a South African business owner or HR Manager will make. Get it right, and you gain a trusted partner who helps you build a genuinely safe, legally sound workplace. Get it wrong, and you risk facing penalties related to non-compliance with the OHS Act and a working environment that’s unsafe for your employees.
So what does due diligence actually look like when selecting an OHS compliance partner? Here’s what every business should consider.
Before evaluating a service provider, it helps to be clear on what OHS compliance in the workplace actually means. OHS compliance is not a single document, a once-off training session, or a certificate issued after a brief site visit. It is an ongoing, systematic commitment to meeting the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHS Act) and its associated regulations.
In practical terms, OHS compliance in the workplace means that your organisation has:
The basic requirements of an OHS compliance report — whether produced by an internal team or an external OHS compliance partner — should reflect all of the above elements, mapped against the applicable sections and regulations of the OHS Act.
A qualified OHS compliance partner helps you build, maintain, and continuously improve this system. Their value is not in handing you a report; it is in genuinely reducing your risk exposure and keeping your workplace legally sound.
The single most important factor when selecting an OHS compliance partner is verified credentials. In South Africa, a legitimate OHS service provider, particularly one offering compliance training, must hold specific accreditations. These are not optional extras; they are the legal framework within which accredited OHS training and compliance services operate.
The key accreditations to look for are:
Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) accreditation First Aid training providers must be registered and accredited by the DoEL. DoEL inspectors recognise and accept training certificates issued by DoEL-accredited providers. If a provider is not DoEL-accredited to offer first aid training, the certificates they issue will not be recognised as valid during a DoEL inspection.
Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA) accreditation The HWSETA is the Sector Education and Training Authority responsible for health and safety training in South Africa. Providers offering NQF-aligned OHS courses — including First Aid Levels 1 to 3, Firefighting, and Health and Safety Officer training — must be accredited by the HWSETA. SETA accreditation confirms that the provider’s courses, facilitators, materials, and quality assurance processes have been independently evaluated and meet the required standard. A provider without SETA accreditation cannot legitimately issue NQF-aligned certificates.
Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) accreditation The QCTO is the overarching quality council responsible for occupational qualifications in South Africa. QCTO requirements mean that providers offering skills programmes and occupational qualifications must be QCTO-registered and compliant. This layer of accreditation, working alongside SAQA and the HWSETA, ensures that learner achievements are formally recognised within the National Qualifications Framework.
Ask any prospective OHS compliance partner for their accreditation letters, not just a logo on a website. Legitimate providers will have no hesitation in supplying documentation.
Absolute Health Services holds full accreditation from the HWSETA, the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL), and the QCTO, and is able to provide accreditation documentation on request.
Equally important as company accreditation is the calibre of the individuals who will be working with your business directly. Ask prospective OHS compliance partners about the qualifications, registrations, and experience of the practitioners who will conduct your compliance assessments, audits, and training. Specifically:
Look for a provider whose team includes experienced paramedics, fire safety professionals, and Health and Safety Practitioners who have worked in operational environments.
Not all OHS compliance groups offer the same range of services, and the depth of those services can vary significantly. When selecting a partner, consider whether their offering covers your full compliance needs, not just the most visible or straightforward elements.
A comprehensive OHS compliance service provider should be able to assist your organisation with:
OHS compliance assessments – an evaluation of your current OHS system and compliance rating, identifying gaps against the requirements of the OHS Act.
Risk assessments – on-site hazard identification, risk ranking, and a written report with recommended controls.
OHS file compilation and maintenance – the structured documentation that forms the backbone of your compliance record and the first thing a DoEL inspector will request.
Compliant appointments – assistance with drafting and implementing the required formal appointment letters under the OHS Act, including Section 16.2 Appointees, Health and Safety Supervisors, Health and Safety Representatives, First Aiders, and others.
Accredited OHS training – covering the legally required training for designated roles including First Aid, Firefighting, Evacuation Planning, and Health and Safety Representative training. Ergonomics training is also mandatory for all employees.
Evacuation drills – legally compliant bi-annual drills with simulated emergencies to test your preparedness and meet regulatory expectations.
OHS management services – ongoing, recurring compliance support through regular site visits, not just annual assessments
A provider that only offers training, or only provides a once-off compliance check, is not a full OHS compliance partner. Compliance is not a destination, it is a continuous process, and your partner should be structured to support that.
South Africa is a large and diverse country, and many businesses operate across multiple provinces. Multi-site compliance management introduces complexity, and a provider without the capacity or geographic reach to support your operations consistently will create gaps.
Consider whether your prospective OHS compliance partner has:
Absolute Health Services operates nationally, with premises in Johannesburg (Fourways), Durban, Gqeberha, and Cape Town, enabling consistent delivery of OHS compliance and training services across the country.
Part of evaluating a prospective OHS compliance partner is understanding what they will deliver, and whether that aligns with what your organisation genuinely needs. The basic requirements of an OHS compliance assessment report issued by a responsible provider should include, at minimum:
Selecting the right OHS compliance partner is ultimately about more than ticking a legal box. When OHS compliance in the workplace is done well, it:
The OHS Act places the legal burden of compliance firmly on the employer. A qualified, credentialed, and experienced OHS compliance partner helps you carry that responsibility confidently, and ensures that your investment in compliance delivers real, lasting value.
Absolute Health Services (AHS) is a fully accredited OHS compliance and training provider, holding accreditation from the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL), the Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA), and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). Our practitioners include HPCSA-registered paramedics, qualified OHS practitioners, and ISO 45001 implementers, giving our clients access to expertise that spans both the technical and the operational dimensions of workplace safety.
We offer a comprehensive suite of OHS compliance and management services, including:
We operate nationally, with premises in Johannesburg, Durban, Gqeberha, and Cape Town, and are committed to providing professional, client-focused, quality OHS compliance services that are both practical and cost-effective.
What is OHS compliance in the workplace? OHS compliance in the workplace means that your organisation meets the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and its regulations, including having a health and safety policy, conducting risk assessments, making the required OHS team appointments, providing OHS training, maintaining accurate records, and more.
What accreditations should an OHS compliance partner hold in South Africa? At a minimum, look for DoEL (Department of Employment and Labour) accreditation for first aid training, HWSETA (Health and Welfare SETA) accreditation for NQF-aligned OHS training courses, and QCTO registration for skills programmes and occupational qualifications. Always ask for accreditation letters and verify them.
What should an OHS compliance report contain? A comprehensive OHS compliance report should identify the applicable legal framework, assess your current compliance status against specific sections and regulations of the OHS Act, identify gaps and areas of risk, provide prioritised corrective actions with timelines, and include signed documentation.
How is OHS accreditation on OHS Act 85 of 1993 different from general business accreditation? OHS accreditation specifically relates to a provider’s authorisation to offer occupational health and safety training and compliance services under the OHS Act and its supporting educational framework. It is granted by specific bodies — the DoEL, HWSETA, and QCTO — and is distinct from generic business registrations or ISO certifications.
How often should OHS compliance assessments be conducted? A full compliance assessment is recommended at least annually. However, assessments should also be triggered by significant changes in the workplace, following serious incidents, or when new regulations come into effect. Ongoing monthly management visits provide the most robust compliance support.
Can a small business afford ongoing OHS compliance services? Yes. Qualified OHS compliance partners structure their services to suit businesses of different sizes. The cost of ongoing compliance support is typically far lower than the cost of a DoEL enforcement action, a compensation claim, or the reputational damage that follows a serious workplace incident.
Want to verify whether your current OHS compliance programme measures up, or find out what working with a properly accredited OHS compliance partner looks like? Contact Absolute Health Services today. Our team is ready to help you build a compliance programme that is practical, legally sound, and genuinely effective.
Our comprehensive Health and Safety Guide is designed to simplify the process of implementing effective workplace safety practices. It provides clear and practical guidance to help employers, including HR and HSE managers, achieve compliance with regulations and create a safe working environment for their employees.
