By Nyima Sonko
For many workers in The Gambia, safety at the workplace is often taken for granted until something goes wrong. From construction sites and farms to hotels, offices and private homes, risks that could be prevented too often go unnoticed. It is this reality that the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHAssociation) The Gambia wants to change.
Barely a year into its existence, the young professional body has unveiled an ambitious five-year strategy aimed at making occupational safety and health management a standard feature of every workplace in the country. At the heart of its mission is a call for a comprehensive national occupational safety and health (OSH) policy and stronger enforcement of existing labour and public health laws.
“We want safety to be part of everyday thinking,” says Dr Lamin O. Ceesay, Chief Executive Officer of OSHAssociation The Gambia. “Not just in factories or offices, but in homes, on the streets and in vehicles everywhere people live and work.”
Established in October 2024 and formally incorporated in April 2025 under the Companies Act, OSHAssociation The Gambia is an independent, non-profit professional body. Through a strategic affiliation with OSHAssociation UK, it is linked to a global professional network, allowing it to offer internationally recognised training, membership and safety compliance services while adapting them to local realities.
According to Dr Ceesay, the association’s vision for 2025–2030 is bold but necessary: to embed occupational safety and health management in every sector of the economy and to see dedicated safety officers appointed in institutions across the country. Central to this vision is the development of a standalone national OSH policy—something The Gambia currently lacks.
While elements of workplace safety appear in existing public health and labour laws, Dr Ceesay argues that these provisions are fragmented and weakly enforced. “A comprehensive policy would give clear direction to employers, workers and regulators, and strengthen accountability,” he explains.
Since its formation, OSHAssociation has moved quickly to turn advocacy into action. It has organised two national online conferences on workplace safety, bringing together officials from the Department of Labour, the Department of Public Health and the National Environment Agency to examine how their policies address occupational risks. In partnership with OSHAssociation UK, the association has trained 53 students from universities, polytechnics and skills centres, certifying 43 of them in workplace safety and health.
On public awareness, the association signed a memorandum of understanding with Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), which paved the way for bi-weekly televised Safety Panel discussions focusing on safety, security and health on land, at sea, in the air and within the wider environment. Although the programme has been paused due to funding constraints, the body’s officials say its initial impact underscored the power of mass media in changing attitudes towards safety.
Beyond the airwaves, the association has introduced an online incident and accident reporting platform, accessible through its website and social media channels. The tool encourages individuals and institutions to report workplace hazards and accidents, helping to generate credible national data for evidence-based advocacy and engagement with policymakers.
For Dr Ceesay and Country President Demba Janneh, the biggest challenge remains awareness or the lack of it. Many workers, they say, do not know that laws exist to protect them, or fail to recognise the dangers embedded in their daily tasks. Child labour, sexual exploitation and harassment in tourism and service industries, unreported accidents in agriculture and construction, and the abuse of domestic workers are among the issues they describe as widespread but under-reported.
Even basic obligations under the Labour Act, such as providing drinking water and adequate sanitary facilities at workplaces, are sometimes ignored. “When safety is neglected, the impact goes beyond the worker it affects families and communities,” Janneh notes.
To confront these realities, OSHAssociation’s 2025–2030 strategy rests on three pillars: research and innovation in occupational safety, health and the environment; partnerships and collaboration for proactive awareness-raising, education and certification; and support for sustainable development. Through its National Action for Safety initiative, the association plans to conduct workplace surveys and thematic studies, generate national-level data on hazards and health impacts, and use the findings to guide prevention campaigns, especially in high-risk sectors.
The road ahead, however, is not without obstacles. Limited funding and human resources remain major constraints, with most activities so far financed privately by members. No major project or donor funding has yet been secured. As a result, the association is appealing to government ministries and agencies, employers’ and workers’ organizations, the UN system, development banks, NGOs and the private sector for support, pledging transparency and regular financial reporting.
Guided by its “WE CARE” values Welcome, Engagement, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsibility and Excellence OSHAssociation The Gambia says it remains committed to “Promoting Safety, Saving Lives,” and to building a culture where safety is no longer an afterthought, but a shared national responsibility.
