Occupational Health and Safety Expert

Background

The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu (GoV), with the assistance of the World Bank, plans to upgrade and improve the South Santo Road, which plays an important role for the island of Santo, linking its east to its west while also serving as a key transit route between its northwest via Tasiriki and Luganville.

To ensure compliance with occupational health and safety (OHS) standards during project implementation, the services of an experienced Occupational Health and Safety Expert will be required. The Expert will be responsible for ensuring that all project activities adhere to national labor and safety laws, as well as to the World Bank’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines and Good International Industry Practice (GIIP).

Qualification Criteria

The Expert should have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, or a related discipline from a recognized institution.

The Expert shall have a minimum of 16 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in the Pacific Region or similar small island environments.

The Expert shall have proven experience in:

• Developing and implementing Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS);
• Conducting workplace risk assessments and accident investigations;
• Preparing and monitoring Contractor’s Health and Safety Plans;
• Supervising construction activities to ensure compliance with international and World Bank EHS standards;
• Providing OHS training and capacity building to contractor and supervision staff.

Preference will be given to candidates having previous experience of working in Vanuatu or other Pacific Island countries.

The Expert should also be familiar with the labor and safety laws of Vanuatu and the World Bank’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines.

Responsibilities

The main role of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Expert is to ensure that all project activities under the South Santo Road Project are carried out in full compliance with applicable OHS regulations, standards, and guidelines. The Expert shall support the Design and Supervision Consultant (DSC) team in maintaining a safe work environment for all project personnel and communities affected by construction activities.

Specific tasks of the OHS Expert will include the following:

• Review the Contractor’s OHS Management Plan (OHSMP) and ensure it is compliant with the project’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), the World Bank EHS Guidelines, and Vanuatu’s labor and safety regulations.
• Conduct regular site inspections to verify that all OHS measures are properly implemented, and report any non-compliance or unsafe practices.
• Identify workplace hazards and recommend preventive and corrective measures to eliminate or minimize risks.
• Ensure that all workers have received appropriate health and safety training and are equipped with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Monitor and report on incidents, near misses, and accidents; support investigations and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Review and approve any updates to the Contractor’s OHSMP and ensure lessons learned are incorporated into ongoing activities.
• Work closely with the DSC’s Environmental and Social Specialists to ensure alignment between environmental, health, and safety management efforts.
• Ensure that emergency preparedness and response plans are in place and periodically tested.
• Support the implementation of the project’s Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) for occupational health and safety issues.
• Contribute to periodic safeguard and progress reports, including sections related to health and safety compliance and performance.