Occupational Safety and Health Officer

Volunteering Medical & Health

Overview

Support OSH management and promote safety initiatives

You have:

• Experience in Occupational Health in a cross-cultural environment is a plus.
• Assist and advise management with safety and health responsibilities.
• Ability to conduct Occupational Safety Risk Assessments (O-SRAs).
• Capability to review and implement OSH Policy in accordance with recognized best practices.
• Experience in conducting safety training and briefings.
• Ability to develop safety and health awareness campaigns.

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Office of the CMS (O/CMS) supports the implementation of the Mission's mandate by providing the necessary managerial, logistical and administrative support, including in areas as budget, finance, human resources management, general services, logistics, occupational safety and health (OSH) and environment. It manages twelve field offices throughout Afghanistan, including seven regional offices and five provincial offices, as well as one support office in Kuwait and two liaison offices in Tehran and Islamabad respectively.

Within the terms of the organization’s delegated authority, and under the direct supervision of the Senior Administrative Officer, the OSH Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Assist/advise the management with regards to safety and health responsibilities and the OSH management system; • Review, update and implement the OSH Policy and objectives in accordance with UN Field Occupational Safety and Health Program, ISO 45001 and recognized best practices; • Conduct Occupational Safety Risk Assessments (O-SRAs) and develop, implement and improve prevention and control measures on general workplace safety; • Conduct periodic surveys and inspections of UNAMA locations and facilities; • Prepare instructions and implement actions for the reduction of risks or elimination of hazards in the workplace; • Conduct continuous safety and health training and briefings for all UNAMA staff; • Ensure effective arrangements for the full participation of UNAMA personnel in the fulfilment of the OSH Policy; • Develop a safety and health awareness campaign to raise consciousness of all UNAMA staff members; • Identify and monitor Mission OSH performance indicators; • Review and respond to the results of Occupational Safety and Health performance evaluations and audits and make appropriate recommendations arising from evaluations and audits to the management in order to facilitate the adoption of corrective actions; • Report workplace incidents, undertake investigations and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. • Act as permanent member and Secretary of UNAMA OSH Committee; • Liaise with all UNAMA SAUs on related cross cutting issues; • Regularly monitor and evaluate the activities of UNAMA OHS Taskforces; • Produce and submit monthly and annual reports to UNHQ and mission management • Develop or review and publish OSH guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Communicate SOPs to all implementing Sections and Units (SAUs). • Carry-out other related duties and responsibilities as required by the supervisor.

Accountability, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Working in Team

workplace safety; experience in Occupational health in a cross-cultural environment is a plus. Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

Afghanistan is a hardship duty station with a volatile security. Living and working conditions for UN volunteers in UNAMA are similar to the living conditions of all other internationally recruited staff members. UN volunteers are provided with safe accommodation in an extensive compound in Kabul with good infrastructure and amenities. The mission has three compounds in Kabul: Compound Alpha, and UNOCA (UN Operational Complex in Afghanistan) the largest one. Generally speaking stringent security measures are in place throughout the country and UN volunteers as other UN staff, are quite limited in all Afghan duty stations when it comes to movement, walking virtually not allowed. The movement is done inside the “green box” (only) mostly in armored vehicles driven by national qualified UN drivers. Many places are off limits (including restaurants). There is also a curfew throughout the country, generally from midnight to 5:30 am but this can very between duty stations. There are number of security measures to be compiled with, The UNAMA Security section provides these guidelines during the initial security briefing up on arrival in the mission area. Upon arrival, volunteers are accommodated at the UNV designated accommodations within the UNOCA compound for a fix charge of US$ 10 per day (US$300per month for a room), exclusive of food. Inside the UNOCA compound are two cafeterias, a restaurant, a “Superette” and 3 small shops which provide a variety of imported canned and frozen food on offer. There is a Fresh vegetable market daily. There is also a social center, a gym hall and a small library with books and DVDs, run by the welfare Office, within the same compound. In the provinces, the situation is different where UN personnel are confined to guess houses in most of the regions, both electricity and water are readily available, although water can sometimes run low as a result of severe droughts in the last couple of years. Most guesthouses have secured water (e.g. through a well in the compound) and generators in the event of power failure. Medical service is provided in all UNAMA duty stations. There is a UN clinic in UNAMA/UNOCA complex and access is granted in Kabul to other private international clinics. Most produce/staples are common in the markets e.g. rice, meat, vegetables, cooking oil, salt etc. UNOCA has a new minimarket where basic goods can be bought also. There are also a number of UN cleared supermarkets in Kabul, in Jalalabad, and in Mazar-I-Sharif. Contact with and outreach to the local community is usually limited. As mentioned many places are off-limits and the choice of recreational facilities are very poor. Living allowances are paid in US$ at the end of each month, but bank transfers by UNAMA to accounts abroad are possible. There are several Western Union money transfer offices in Kabul and an international bank is operating in the UNAMA compound. Summer in Afghanistan is hot and dry but winter is the opposite, cold and wet. Therefore, both summer and winter clothing and comfortable boots with insulation are necessary. Most common consumer articles are available in Kabul (and in the regions). Afghanistan is a unique country and UNAMA is a unique UN mission. It requires more stamina, commitment, and flexibility than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in hazardous and harsh conditions involving physical hardship and little comfort are absolutely essential. https://www.unv.org/

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org