Safety Officer Job Opportunity at Ivanhoe Mines (Ivanplats) – Mokopane 2026
Safety Officer Vacancy at Ivanplats Mine in Mokopane, Limpopo
Introduction
Ivanhoe Mines is currently seeking a qualified and experienced Safety Officer to join its Ivanplats division in Mokopane, Limpopo. This permanent position offers an exciting opportunity for safety professionals to contribute to one of South Africa’s most advanced mining developments.
The role forms part of the Ivanplats Platreef Project, a world-class palladium, rhodium, nickel, copper, and gold mining development located near Mokopane. The project is designed as a modern mechanised underground mining operation and is often referred to as a “mine of the future” because of its use of innovative technologies and advanced mining methods.
Applications opened on 29 May 2026 and will close on 11 June 2026.
About Ivanplats and the Platreef Project
Ivanhoe Mines is a globally recognised mining company focused on developing and operating world-class mining projects. Through its subsidiary Ivanplats (Pty) Ltd, the company is developing the Platreef Project in Limpopo Province.
The Platreef Project is one of the largest undeveloped precious and base metal deposits globally and is expected to become a major contributor to South Africa’s mining sector. The mine will use state-of-the-art mechanised mining techniques designed to improve productivity, efficiency, and safety.
Safety remains one of the highest priorities on the project, making the Safety Officer role critical to operational success.
Job Overview
- Position: Safety Officer (REF: IVP-PRO-2607)
- Company: Ivanhoe Mines
- Division: Ivanplats
- Location: Mokopane
- Employment Type: Permanent
- Industry: Mining and Metals
- Functional Area: Mining
- Experience Level: Mid-Senior
- Closing Date: 11 June 2026
Purpose of the Role
The Safety Officer will be responsible for ensuring that all activities on site are conducted safely and in compliance with mining regulations, company standards, and industry best practices.
The successful candidate will play a key role in promoting a culture of safety, preventing workplace incidents, managing contractor compliance, and supporting project teams in maintaining safe working environments.
This position requires an individual who is proactive, detail-oriented, and committed to achieving zero harm objectives.
Minimum Qualifications
To qualify for this role, candidates should possess:
- Relevant Safety Qualification
- SAMTRAC
- NEBOSH
- Equivalent recognised safety qualification
- Strong knowledge of mining safety legislation and standards
- Registration with a relevant professional safety body will be advantageous
Additional certifications related to occupational health and safety may strengthen an application.
Experience Requirements
Applicants should have:
- Minimum 5 to 8 years of experience in safety management
- Experience within mining, construction, or industrial environments
- Experience working within multi-contractor environments
- Strong knowledge of risk management and incident prevention
Candidates with underground mining experience may have an added advantage.
Key Responsibilities
Safety Oversight and Enforcement
One of the primary responsibilities of the Safety Officer is to ensure that all work activities are conducted safely.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting continuous safety inspections across work areas
- Monitoring daily operations for compliance
- Enforcing mine safety procedures and standards
- Ensuring compliance with permit systems
- Identifying unsafe conditions and behaviours
- Taking immediate corrective action when necessary
- Supporting safe work execution at all times
The Safety Officer serves as a frontline representative of the site’s safety culture.
Contractor Safety Management
Given the large number of contractors involved in project development, contractor management is a critical component of the role.
Responsibilities include:
- Verifying contractor compliance with safety requirements
- Confirming completion of safety inductions
- Monitoring contractor work practices
- Preventing unauthorised work activities
- Enforcing disciplinary action where required
- Ensuring contractors understand project safety expectations
Strong communication and leadership skills are essential in this area.
Training and Safety Awareness
The Safety Officer will contribute to workforce education and awareness programmes.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting safety inductions
- Delivering toolbox talks and safety briefings
- Providing ongoing contractor training
- Reinforcing behavioural safety initiatives
- Promoting awareness of workplace hazards
- Encouraging safe work practices
The goal is to create a culture where safety becomes everyone’s responsibility.
Incident Prevention and Management
Prevention remains one of the most important functions of the role.
Responsibilities include:
- Identifying hazards before incidents occur
- Conducting workplace risk assessments
- Investigating accidents and near misses
- Implementing corrective actions
- Developing preventative strategies
- Maintaining accurate incident records
- Reporting incidents according to company procedures
Effective incident management helps reduce future risks and improve operational safety.
Compliance and Regulatory Management
The Safety Officer must ensure that all activities comply with relevant legislation and regulatory standards.
Responsibilities include:
- Monitoring compliance with mining legislation
- Ensuring adherence to safety procedures
- Supporting internal and external audits
- Maintaining compliance documentation
- Verifying permits and risk assessments
- Ensuring audit readiness at all times
Compliance is essential to maintaining operational integrity and avoiding regulatory penalties.
Coordination with Construction and SHE Teams
The Safety Officer will work closely with various project stakeholders.
These include:
- Construction Managers
- Site Supervisors
- SHE Managers
- Engineering Teams
- Contractors
- Operational Management
Responsibilities include:
- Aligning safety requirements with project schedules
- Supporting safe construction activities
- Assisting with implementation of site-wide safety strategies
- Verifying safe execution of engineering designs
- Participating in safety planning discussions
Collaboration across departments is essential for maintaining a safe project environment.
Risk Identification and Mitigation
A major responsibility of the role is identifying and reducing risks before incidents occur.
Key duties include:
- Assessing high-risk work activities
- Monitoring risk exposure trends
- Implementing preventative controls
- Conducting workplace inspections
- Recommending risk reduction measures
- Reviewing safety performance data
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required to perform these tasks effectively.
Governance and Control
The Safety Officer plays an important role in maintaining governance standards across the project.
Responsibilities include:
- Ensuring safety records are accurate and auditable
- Maintaining documentation integrity
- Reporting serious safety concerns
- Escalating repeated non-compliance issues
- Supporting corrective action implementation
- Protecting the organisation from regulatory risks
Proper governance strengthens accountability and continuous improvement.
Essential Skills and Competencies
The ideal candidate should possess the following skills:
Technical Skills
- Safety management systems
- Risk assessment techniques
- Incident investigation
- Regulatory compliance management
- Mining safety procedures
- Audit preparation and support
- Contractor safety management
Soft Skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Decision-making
- Conflict resolution
- Time management
These competencies are critical for maintaining safety standards within a complex mining environment.
Working Environment
The Ivanplats project operates within a highly regulated mining environment where safety is the highest priority.
The Safety Officer will be expected to:
- Work in active construction and mining areas
- Interact with multiple contractors and stakeholders
- Conduct site inspections regularly
- Participate in audits and investigations
- Monitor high-risk activities continuously
- Support a culture of zero harm
The role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to one of South Africa’s most advanced mining developments.
Why Join Ivanhoe Mines?
Working at Ivanhoe Mines offers professionals the opportunity to be part of a globally recognised mining company developing innovative projects.
Benefits include:
- Career growth opportunities
- Exposure to advanced mining technologies
- Working on a world-class mining project
- Professional development opportunities
- Competitive industry remuneration
- Contribution to a major mining development in South Africa
The company is committed to safety, innovation, sustainability, and employee development.
Employment Equity and Application Information
Preference will be given to:
- Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA)
- Women applicants
- Individuals from communities surrounding the Ivanplats Platreef Mine
Applications are open to South African citizens only.
Interested candidates should submit applications through the official Ivanhoe Communities recruitment platform before the closing date of 11 June 2026.
Late applications will not be considered.
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Final Thoughts
The Safety Officer position at Ivanhoe Mines offers an excellent opportunity for experienced safety professionals looking to advance their careers in the mining sector.
With responsibilities ranging from contractor management and incident prevention to compliance monitoring and risk mitigation, the role is critical to the success of the Ivanplats Platreef Project.
Candidates with strong mining safety experience, recognised safety qualifications, and a passion for creating safe working environments are encouraged to apply before 11 June 2026.