Compare your options
Safety file: consultant vs software vs DIY
There are three ways to produce a compliant construction safety file in South Africa. Here is how they compare on cost, speed, effort, and compliance — so you can choose the right one for your project.
| Consultant | MySafetyFile (software) | DIY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Priced per file or per day; varies widely by consultant, region, and project complexity. | R500 per file, flat. No registration or monthly fee. | No direct invoice, but a real cost in time — and in compliance risk if you get it wrong. |
| Turnaround | Usually days to weeks, often involving an appointment and a site visit. | About 8 minutes, available immediately. | Many hours, often spread over days. |
| Site-specific | Yes — a good consultant tailors the file to your project. | Yes — every document is populated with your project details. | Only if you have the expertise to make it so; easy to leave generic. |
| Compliance alignment | Depends on the individual consultant's competence and currency. | Aligned with the OHS Act 85 of 1993 and Construction Regulations 2014; built by SAIOSH-registered practitioners. | High risk of gaps if you are not across the current regulations. |
| Effort required from you | Low — but you depend on the consultant's availability. | Low — answer a guided form; the system assembles the file. | High — you research, draft, and assemble every document. |
| Re-using for new projects | Usually a new engagement and a new fee each time. | Generate as many files as you need; one account, unlimited projects, R500 each. | Start again — or risk re-using a file that is no longer site-specific. |
| Best suited to | Complex, high-risk, or bespoke projects that need hands-on professional advice. | Contractors and consultants who need compliant files quickly and predictably. | Those with in-house OHS expertise and time to spare. |
When a consultant still makes sense
Software is the fastest and most predictable way to produce a standard, compliant safety file — but it is not a replacement for professional judgement on every project. For complex, high-risk, or unusual work — major demolition, deep excavation, specialised lifting, or a project where a client's agent demands a bespoke methodology — the hands-on advice of an experienced safety consultant is worth the cost.
Many consultants in fact use MySafetyFile themselves to produce the standard documentation quickly, then add their specialist input on top. You can do the same: generate the file in minutes and spend your time on the parts that genuinely need expertise.
The fastest, most predictable option
Generate a complete, site-specific safety file in about 8 minutes for R500 — then add specialist input only where your project needs it.