16.1 Legal Liability Course Introduction

The 16.1 legal liability course is designed for business owners, employers, CEOs, directors, and senior managers who are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993). In particular, the 16.1 legal liability course focuses on the legal responsibilities placed on the Section 16(1) employer, who carries the highest level of accountability for the health and safety of all employees and persons affected by the organisation’s operations. The course equips participants with a clear understanding of their legal duties, the importance of proactive safety management, and the practical systems needed to fulfil compliance obligations effectively and confidently.

This 16.1 legal liability course provides in-depth guidance on establishing, managing, and maintaining a legally compliant Health and Safety Management System. A key component of this system is the compilation and maintenance of a legally compliant Health and Safety File. Participants will learn what documents must be included in the file, how to keep it updated, how to ensure access for relevant stakeholders, and how the file serves as evidence of compliance during audits, inspections, or incident investigations. A structured and well-maintained Health and Safety File demonstrates that reasonable measures were taken to protect employees from harm.

The 16.1 legal liability course also covers the legal requirements for staff training and competency development. Participants will gain insight into which roles require formal training by law, such as First Aid responders, Health and Safety Representatives, Fire Marshals, and employees working in high-risk environments like Working at Heights or Confined Spaces. Learners are guided on how to identify training needs, maintain training records, schedule refresher training, and promote ongoing safety learning as part of the organisation’s culture.

Providing and maintaining Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Personal Protective Clothing (PPC) is another essential responsibility addressed in the 16.1 legal liability course. Participants will learn how to select appropriate PPE based on actual workplace hazards, how to issue equipment correctly, how to maintain records of issuance, and how to ensure employees use PPE correctly and consistently. The course further emphasizes the employer’s obligation to provide PPE at no financial cost to employees.

Risk assessments form a core element of proactive safety management, and the 16.1 legal liability course provides practical guidance on conducting, reviewing, and updating them. Participants will learn to identify hazards, evaluate risks, implement suitable control measures, and document findings in a clear and enforceable manner. This ensures hazards are controlled before they result in incidents or injury.

The course also provides clear instruction on conducting incident investigations when workplace incidents occur. Learners are taught how to record incidents accurately, determine underlying causes, implement corrective and preventive actions, and report incidents to the required authorities when applicable. This ensures compliance and contributes to continuous improvement.

In addition, the 16.1 legal liability course highlights the importance of effective communication and leadership in promoting workplace safety. Employers must ensure that employees understand acceptable behaviours, workplace rules, and the consequences of unsafe conduct. Participants will learn strategies for reinforcing safety expectations, addressing unsafe practices, and encouraging hazard reporting without fear of negative consequences.

Finally, the 16.1 legal liability course provides practical guidance on establishing and managing Health and Safety Committee Meetings. Participants will learn how to appoint committee members, set agendas, keep proper minutes, assign responsibilities, and follow up on action points to ensure accountability and ongoing safety improvement.

Upon completion, participants will have the confidence and capability to fulfil their legal responsibilities, lead safety initiatives, and build a workplace where health and safety is a shared responsibility and an ongoing organisational priority.

Click on the link below to see the Act.

https://www.gov.za/documents/occupational-health-and-safety-act?gclid=CjwKCAjw_NX7BRA1EiwA2dpg0kaD1NNf9VBoW4wJ60yfuSS7UiLT7aaR5LPRTh3WoFEjlWO9ZR8HmhoCWWcQAvD_BwE