By Emma Black
The Ministry of employment, Labour and Social Security has reinforced workplace safety in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector by conducting a comprehensive two-day occupational safety and Health (OSH) training for over 250 employees of Goldtree (SL) ltd., a leading palm oil producer operating in daru.
Held on 20th and 21st November 2025, the training formed part of a broader workshop themed occupational health & safety, employment, industrial relations and decent work. Participants included staff from across Goldtree’s operations mill workers, field staff, administrative personnel, and management.
Facilitated by experts from the Ministry’s occupational safety and health directorate, the program introduced employees to national OSH standards and practical strategies to prevent workplace injuries and occupational diseases. Mr. Abdul Karim Conteh, Director of OSH, emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting safer work environments and noted that proactive compliance is critical to reducing industrial accidents, we commended Goldtree for embracing structured capacity-building and encouraged other private sector companies to follow suit.
Over the two days, participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering, Hazard identification and risk assessment, fire safety and emergency preparedness, ergonomics and chemical handling first aid and emergency response workers’ rights, responsibilities, and grievance mechanisms
Goldtree’s internal safety team supported the training with demonstrations and guided discussions, linking safety policies directly to daily work practices, company officials, including the senior mill manager and human resource manager, highlighted ongoing investments in personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency systems, and fair employment practices.
The workshop concluded on a positive note, with both the ministry and Goldtree staff describing the training as a timely and significant step in strengthening workplace safety and collaboration, plans were also discussed to extend refresher courses and expand training to smallholder farmers and contractors within the company’s supply chain.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 26th November 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
