The primary regulations regarding occupational health and safety measures to be followed in workplaces in Türkiye are regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Code No. 6331 of 2012.
One of the obligations imposed on employers by the Article 18 of Code No. 6331 is to ensure that employees’ opinions are obtained and their participation is ensured in the practices related to occupational health and safety to be implemented in the workplace.
Accordingly, the employer must provide the following opportunities to employees or, in workplaces where there are two or more employee representatives, to authorized union representatives if any, or to employee representatives if none, regarding obtaining opinions and ensuring participation:
- Obtaining their opinions on issues related to occupational health and safety, granting them the right to make proposals, and taking part in and ensuring their participation in negotiations on these issues.
- Obtaining their opinions on the application of new technologies, the impact of the work equipment to be selected, the working environment and conditions on the health and safety of employees.
Likewise, the employer must ensure that the opinions of support personnel and employee representatives are obtained in advance on the following issues related to occupational health and safety:
- Assignment of workplace physicians, occupational safety specialists and other personnel to be assigned from the workplace or to be provided from outside the workplace, as well as responsible persons for first aid, firefighting and evacuation.
- Determination of protective and preventive measures to be taken and protective equipment and gear to be used by conducting a risk assessment.
- Prevention of health and safety risks and implementation of protective services.
- Informing employees related to the matters of occupational health and safety.
- Planning of training to be provided to employees.
According to the law, the rights of employees or employee representatives cannot be restricted due to their application to the competent authority in cases where the measures taken for occupational health and safety in the workplace are inadequate or during inspections.
In short, according to the Turkish Occupational Health and Safety Code No. 6331, employers are obliged to ensure that the opinions of employees are obtained and their participation in the practices related to occupational health and safety to be implemented in the workplace.
