Improving Regulatory Frameworks and Community Engagement for OHSE in Sierra Leone's Mining, Manufacturing, and Construction Sectors

Abstract

Background: Sierra Leone's mining, manufacturing, and construction sectors are characterised by chronically weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate safety budgets, and superficial community engagement. These governance failures perpetuate severe occupational health, safety, and environmental (OHSE) risks for workers and communities. Strengthening regulatory frameworks and deepening community participation are widely recognised as essential for sustainable OHSE improvement, yet evidence on the specific barriers and enablers in Sierra Leone's context remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) assess the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks and mitigation strategies; (2) identify statistical predictors of regulatory collaboration adequacy and effective safety implementation; (3) evaluate the nature and quality of community engagement in OHSE governance; (4) characterise stakeholder priorities for regulatory and community-based improvement; and (5) generate evidence-based policy recommendations for government, industry, and civil society actors. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design collected data from 500 participants across seven districts in Sierra Leone via structured surveys, semi-structured key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and ISO 14001-based environmental checklists. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, logistic regression, Kendall's W concordance, and NVivo thematic coding. Results: Weak regulatory enforcement was the most frequently identified gap across all sectors (construction: 40%; mining: 35%; manufacturing: 30%). Quarterly regulatory safety audits (Coef. = 2.015, p = 0.003) and industry safety association membership (Coef. = 1.578, p = 0.006) were the strongest predictors of adequate safety resources. Community engagement satisfaction was only moderate across all sectors, and key informants consistently described engagement as tokenistic rather than genuinely participatory. Stakeholders ranked increased safety budget allocation (Mean Rank = 1.48) and mandatory annual safety training (Mean Rank = 1.85) as top priorities. Conclusion: Sustainable OHSE improvement in Sierra Leone requires a fundamental shift from compliance theatre to genuine participatory governance—combining strengthened regulatory enforcement with authentic, rights-based community engagement and industry accountability.