The Ministry of Employment, Labour, and Social Security has improved workplace safety in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector by providing a comprehensive two-day Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training to over 250 employees of Goldtree (SL) Ltd., a major palm oil producer based in Daru, Kailahun District. The training, held on November 20 and 21, 2025, was a key component of a larger workshop titled “Occupational Health & Safety, Employment, Industrial Relations, and Decent Work.”
Participants included a cross-section of Goldtree staff — mill workers, field operatives, administrative personnel and members of management — who took part in intensive, hands-on sessions led by facilitators from the Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health Directorate. Mr Abdul Karim Conteh, the Ministry’s Director of OSH, emphasised the government’s ongoing commitment to safer workplaces and the importance of proactive compliance with national OSH standards in reducing industrial accidents and occupational illnesses.
The training lasted two days and covered a wide range of practical topics aimed at reducing risks on-site and strengthening employee capacity. Sessions covered hazard identification and risk assessment, fire safety and emergency preparedness, ergonomics, safe chemical handling, basic first aid, and employee rights and responsibilities. Trainers also explained grievance mechanisms, which allow employees to raise safety concerns and contribute to the continuous improvement of workplace practices.
Goldtree’s internal safety team assisted the Ministry facilitators by delivering demonstrations and leading guided discussions to help participants apply safety principles to their daily tasks. Company representatives, including the Senior Mill Manager and the Human Resource Manager, spoke about ongoing investments in personal protective equipment (PPE), improved emergency response systems, and fair employment practices aimed at protecting workers and improving working conditions.
Mr Conteh commended Goldtree (SL) Ltd. for opening its operations to structured capacity-building from the Ministry and urged other private-sector employers to emulate the company’s collaborative approach to advancing decent work. Both Ministry and company officials described the workshop as timely and impactful, and they announced plans for regular refresher courses. They also stated that they intend to provide similar training to smallholder farmer groups and contractors in Goldtree’s supply chain to achieve broader, sector-wide improvements in occupational safety and health.
