Occupational health and safety regulation in Turkey is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 (OHSL) which was enacted in the year 2012. The law aims to protect the health and safety of workers in the country by setting out the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of employers, employees, and the government in relation to workplace safety.
The OHSL applies to all employers and employees in Turkey, regardless of the size or nature of their business.
The OHSL requires employers to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and health of their employees, including providing safe working conditions, adequate training, and appropriate protective equipment. Employers are also responsible for identifying and assessing risks in the workplace, and taking appropriate action to eliminate or mitigate those risks. The law obligates employers to ensure OHS services to be obtained to employees without any additional cost to be reflected to the employee.
Employees also have responsibilities under the OHSL, including taking care of their own health and safety and cooperating with their employer in maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.
The OHSL also defines the right to stop work for the employee if he/she believe that the safety or health is at risk.
The government plays an important role in enforcing the OHSL in Turkey, with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security is responsible for overseeing compliance with the law. The ministry has the power to inspect workplaces and issue fines or sanctions against employers who fail to comply with their obligations under the law. In addition to labour inspectors the inspectors and auditors of the Social Security Institution are also authorised to make inspections in workplaces.
One of the main challenges facing occupational health and safety in Turkey is the high rate of workplace accidents and injuries. According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute, the rate of fatal workplace accidents in Turkey is higher than the average for the European Union and the country is one of the worst among the OECD members. This is due in part to a lack of compliance with safety regulations and a lack of sufficient enforcement and audit by the government.
To address this problem, the government has introduced a number of initiatives to improve occupational health and safety in Turkey. These include increasing the number of workplace inspections and increasing penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, the government has established a program to provide training and education to employers and employees on occupational health and safety.
In conclusion, Occupational health and safety regulation in Turkey is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331, which aims to protect the health and safety of workers in the country. Employers and employees have rights and responsibilities in relation to workplace safety and the government plays an important role in enforcing the law. Despite the efforts of the government, Turkey still has a high rate of workplace accidents and injuries, which is an issue that needs to be addressed.
