Safety Officer (HSE Officer)

1. Job Purpose

The Safety Officer is responsible for implementing, monitoring, and continuously improving occupational health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standards across Modern Bakery LLC's production, warehousing, distribution, and administrative facilities. The role ensures full compliance with UAE Federal labour and occupational safety legislation and with Dubai Municipality and Dubai Civil Defense regulations, while embedding a proactive safety culture appropriate to a food manufacturing environment.

2. Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and periodically review the company's Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) policy, risk assessments, and standard operating procedures in line with UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and Ministerial Resolution No. 32 of 1982 on Occupational Safety and Health.
• Conduct regular workplace inspections across bakery production lines, warehouses, cold storage, loading bays, and Modern Bakery Garage/fleet operations to identify hazards and non-conformities.
• Carry out risk assessments (machinery, manual handling, chemical/cleaning agents, fire, electrical, and food-grade hygiene hazards) and maintain a live risk register.
• Investigate workplace incidents, accidents, and near-misses; prepare root-cause analysis reports and corrective/preventive action plans.
• Coordinate Fire & Life Safety compliance with Dubai Civil Defence, including fire drills, evacuation plans, extinguisher and alarm system checks, and NOC renewals.
• Liaise with the Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department and Public Health & Safety Department on matters where occupational safety intersects with food hygiene and premises licensing.
• Deliver HSE induction training for new joiners and ongoing toolbox talks / refresher training for production, warehouse, and driving staff.
• Maintain PPE issuance records, machine guarding checks, permit-to-work systems (hot work, confined space, working at height), and calibration logs for safety equipment.
• Monitor compliance with MOHRE requirements on working hours, rest breaks, and occupational health obligations, particularly during Ramadan and high-heat summer months (Midday Working Break, June–September).
• Maintain accident/incident statistics (LTIFR, TRIR) and prepare periodic HSE reports for the C.A.O. and senior management.
• Support ISO 45001 / ISO 22000 (where applicable) certification and audit readiness, including internal audits and documentation control.
• Manage relationships with third-party HSE auditors, insurance risk surveyors, and regulatory inspectors during site visits.
• Recommend and track closure of corrective actions arising from internal audits, external inspections, and management review meetings.

3. Mandatory Certifications

Candidates must hold, or be able to produce upon request, the following:

Certification

Status / Notes

NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC)

Mandatory — internationally recognized HSE qualification; standard requirement for Safety Officer roles across the UAE.

OSHAD-SF / Dubai Municipality–recognized HSE Certificate

Mandatory — evidence of registration or eligibility for registration as a qualified HSE practitioner under the applicable emirate framework.

IOSH Managing Safely / Working Safely

Preferred — supports supervisory-level safety management competency.

Dubai Civil Defence–approved Fire & Life Safety / Fire Warden Certificate

Mandatory — required for fire risk assessment and coordination with Dubai Civil Defence on-site inspections.

First Aid & CPR Certification (recognised provider)

Mandatory — current and valid at all times.

HACCP / Food Safety Awareness Certificate

Mandatory — given the food manufacturing environment; supports coordination with Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department requirements.

ISO 45001:2018 Lead Auditor / Internal Auditor

Preferred — advantageous where the company maintains or is pursuing ISO 45001 certification.

4. Experience Requirements

• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in a Safety Officer / HSE Officer role, preferably within food manufacturing, FMCG, or bakery/production environments in the UAE.
• Demonstrated experience conducting risk assessments and incident investigations in a factory or production-line setting.
• Prior direct engagement with Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai Municipality, and/or OSHAD inspectors or auditors.
• Experience implementing HSE management systems (ISO 45001) and, ideally, exposure to food safety systems (ISO 22000/HACCP) given the bakery operating context.
• UAE driving license preferred, to enable inter-site visits across Modern Bakery LLC, Modern Bakery Garage, and Modern General Trading LLC locations.

5. Skills & Competencies

• Strong working knowledge of UAE OHS legislation, MOHRE regulations, and Dubai-specific municipal and civil defence codes of practice.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate hazard observations into practical, cost-effective corrective actions.
• Confident communicator able to train and influence shop-floor staff, supervisors, and senior management alike.
• Meticulous record-keeping and reporting discipline; comfortable maintaining registers, logs, and audit trails.
• Bilingual (English/Arabic) communication skills are an advantage given the diverse blue-collar workforce.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for reporting and documentation.

6. UAE Legal & Regulatory Compliance Framework

The Safety Officer's activities must be carried out with reference to, and in ongoing compliance with, the following:

• Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (and its Executive Regulations) — particularly provisions on employer obligations for occupational health and safety.
• Ministerial Resolution No. 32 of 1982 concerning Precautions and Preventive Measures to Protect Workers, and subsequent MOHRE circulars on workplace safety.
• MOHRE Ministerial Decree on the Midday Working Break (heat-stress protection, June–September).
• Dubai Municipality Local Orders and Codes of Practice applicable to industrial/food premises, including public health and environmental health requirements.
• Dubai Civil Defence fire and life safety codes, including requirements for fire risk assessments, means of escape, and NOC issuance/renewal.
• Dubai Municipality Food Safety Department requirements, where occupational safety controls intersect with food-grade hygiene and premises licensing for bakery production.
• Federal Law No. 24 of 1999 (as amended) on the Protection of the Environment, where relevant to waste handling and environmental controls.

7. Working Conditions

• Primarily based at Modern Bakery LLC production and warehouse facilities in Dubai, with periodic travel to Modern Bakery Garage and Modern General Trading LLC sites.
• Requires floor-level presence on production lines, cold storage, and loading areas; exposure to typical bakery/industrial operating conditions.
• May require availability outside standard hours in the event of an incident, audit, or regulatory inspection.

Pay: AED5,000.00 - AED8,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person