Workplace safety, port logistics, hazardous materials, environmental protection, transport safety, food safety and business risks
The Gambia is mainland Africa’s smallest country by land area, but its economic and logistical importance is greater than its size suggests. The country is built around the Gambia River, has direct access to the Atlantic Ocean and is almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. Its capital region around Banjul, Kanifing and Serekunda forms the country’s main economic, administrative and logistics centre.
For companies operating in The Gambia, safety and risk management have a very practical character. The country does not have the heavy mining or oil-based risk profile of some African economies, but it faces important risks in ports, road transport, construction, tourism, agriculture, food distribution, waste management, fuel storage and climate resilience. Flooding, coastal erosion, droughts and windstorms are also important national risks, with direct consequences for food security, transport infrastructure, tourism and local communities.
General information
The Gambia has around 2.4 to 2.8 million inhabitants, depending on the source and estimate used. Banjul is the capital, while Serekunda and the wider Kanifing area form the largest urban and commercial centre. Other important towns include Brikama, Bakau, Farafenni, Basse Santa Su, Soma and Barra.
English is the official language and is used in government, education, legislation and business. Local languages such as Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Jola and Serer are widely spoken in daily life. For workplace safety, this is important: procedures written only in formal English may not be fully understood by every worker. Good HSE training should use clear language, practical examples and, where needed, local-language explanation.
Economy and main risk profile
The Gambian economy is driven by services, agriculture, tourism, trade, remittances, fisheries and port-related logistics. Banjul Port is central to imports and exports, while road transport connects the coastal region with inland communities and with Senegal.
This creates a risk profile focused on logistics, fuel handling, warehousing, tourism, food hygiene, agriculture, road safety and climate-related disruption. Construction activity in urban and tourism zones also creates risks such as falls from height, electrical accidents, manual handling injuries and poor site housekeeping.
Unlike larger industrial countries, The Gambia’s HSE challenge is often not one large high-hazard sector, but the combination of many smaller risks across daily operations: unsafe transport, poor waste handling, fuel storage, food contamination, flooding, inadequate PPE, informal work and limited emergency capacity.
Occupational health and safety
The Gambia’s workplace safety framework is linked to labour and public health legislation. Sources discussing the national OSH context refer to laws such as the Labour Act 2007, the Factories Act, the Public Health Act and the Workers’ Compensation Act as important parts of the worker protection framework.
For employers, the practical duty is clear: workers should be protected from foreseeable harm. This means identifying hazards, providing safe systems of work, maintaining equipment, training workers, supplying suitable PPE and preparing for emergencies.
In well-organized companies, this can be built into a simple HSE management system. The system does not need to be complicated, but it must be real. Workers should know what to do during a fire, spill, injury, traffic incident or severe weather event. Supervisors should regularly inspect worksites, correct unsafe behaviour and document incidents.
Port, logistics and hazardous materials
Banjul Port is one of the country’s most important economic assets. It handles fuel, food products, containers, machinery, construction materials, consumer goods and other imports. Port and logistics operations involve risks from trucks, forklifts, cranes, containers, manual handling, fuel, chemicals and fire.
Hazardous materials in The Gambia may include fuel, LPG, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, paints, solvents, batteries, medical chemicals and waste oils. These substances are found not only in industrial settings, but also in hotels, farms, clinics, workshops, fuel depots, warehouses and transport operations.
Safe management requires proper labelling, separation of incompatible substances, access to Safety Data Sheets, spill kits, fire extinguishers, ventilation and worker training. A small fuel leak or chemical spill can quickly become serious if it occurs near drains, food storage areas, ignition sources or public spaces.
Transport safety and road risk
Road transport is essential in The Gambia, but road safety remains a major public safety issue. The WHO published a 2023 road safety country profile for The Gambia as part of the Global Status Report on Road Safety, providing a baseline for the 2021–2030 Decade of Action.
For businesses, road risk is often one of the most important occupational risks. Employees may drive for deliveries, hotel transfers, agricultural supply, port logistics, construction work or field operations. Long working hours, poor vehicle condition, speeding, pedestrian exposure and limited emergency response can increase the severity of accidents.
Companies should treat driving as a controlled work activity. Defensive driving, vehicle checks, seatbelt use, speed control, journey planning and fatigue management can significantly reduce risk.
Environmental legislation and impact assessment
The Gambia has a formal environmental management framework. The National Environment Management Act 1994 provides the legal basis for environmental protection, and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations were adopted in 2014. These regulations set out procedures for projects that may affect the environment.
For companies, this means that construction, infrastructure, tourism, energy, waste, agricultural or industrial projects may require environmental screening or assessment. An EIA should not be seen as paperwork only. It helps identify risks to water, soil, air, biodiversity, communities and local livelihoods before damage occurs.
Waste, plastic pollution and sanitation
Waste management is one of The Gambia’s most visible environmental challenges. Plastic pollution affects beaches, waterways, tourism areas and urban environments. Recent reporting noted that The Gambia introduced an ambitious National Action Plan to End Plastic Pollution, aiming to reduce plastic waste significantly over the coming decade.
Waste risks are not limited to plastic. Hotels, clinics, workshops, farms and warehouses may generate hazardous waste such as used oil, batteries, contaminated packaging, medical waste, pesticides and cleaning chemicals. These should be separated from ordinary waste and handled through controlled procedures.
Poor waste handling can create fire risks, worker injuries, disease exposure, soil contamination and reputational damage, especially in a tourism-dependent economy.
Climate risks and business continuity
The Gambia is highly vulnerable to flooding, droughts, coastal erosion and windstorms. These hazards can disrupt transport, damage infrastructure, affect food production, harm tourism assets and create public health risks.
For businesses, climate risk should be part of continuity planning. A hotel near the coast must consider erosion, storm damage and water supply. A warehouse must consider flooding and drainage. A transport company must consider road disruption. A food business must consider power interruptions, refrigeration failure and supply delays.
Good preparation includes emergency contacts, alternative routes, backup power, drainage checks, stock protection, staff training and clear communication procedures.
Food safety and food security
Food safety is especially important in The Gambia because of tourism, urban markets, fisheries, restaurants, hotels and imported food supply chains. Food safety risks include poor hygiene, unsafe water, temperature abuse, cross-contamination, pests, expired products and inadequate storage.
The wider food security context is also important. WFP’s 2024–2028 country strategic plan for The Gambia focuses on nutrition, resilience, emergency preparedness and food systems, working with national disaster management, health, agriculture, logistics and infrastructure partners.
Food businesses should apply practical HACCP principles: clean water, temperature control, personal hygiene, pest control, supplier checks, separation of raw and cooked foods and traceability.
Best practices for companies
Companies in The Gambia should build simple but reliable HSE systems. The first step is to identify the real risks: transport, fire, fuel, chemicals, food hygiene, waste, flooding, construction work, manual handling, electricity and emergency response.
Training should be practical and understandable. Workers should know how to report hazards, use fire extinguishers, respond to spills, handle chemicals, drive safely and maintain hygiene. International standards such as ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 can provide useful structure, but even small companies can start with basic procedures, inspections and incident reporting.
Conclusion
The Gambia’s safety and environmental risk profile is shaped by its small size, coastal location, port economy, tourism sector, agricultural base and climate vulnerability. The main priorities are road safety, port logistics, fuel and chemical handling, food safety, waste management, flooding, coastal erosion and workplace safety in construction, tourism and services.
For companies, investing in prevention, training, environmental protection and emergency planning is not only about compliance. It is essential for protecting workers, customers, communities and the long-term reputation of doing business in The Gambia.
