Occupational health and safety is of vital importance for the protection of employees. Emergencies can occur as unexpected and potentially dangerous events in workplaces. Such situations require employers to effectively implement emergency evacuation plans.
This article discusses the obligations of employers regarding the evacuation of employees in cases of serious, imminent and unavoidable danger in the Turkish Occupational Health and Safety Regime. The measures that employers must take to ensure the safety of employees and the effective management of evacuation processes are also be discussed.
Obligations of Employers in case of Serious and Imminent Danger
In accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Code No. 6331, which determines the basic provisions regarding occupational health and safety in Türkiye, employers are subject to significant obligations in the event of a serious, imminent and unavoidable danger in the working environment.
The basic obligations of the employer are as follows:
1. Evacuation Arrangements
The employer must make the necessary arrangements in advance for employees to leave their jobs and go to a safe area in the event of an emergency. This includes determining evacuation routes and informing employees about these routes. It is essential that the necessary instructions are communicated in a clear and understandable manner so that employees can move safely. Emergency drills must be executed in prior. n. Effective evacuation plans and informing employees are key.
2. Defining Employee’s Job Descriptions
If the situation continues, the employer should not ask employees who are not specifically assigned and have the necessary equipment to continue their work unless it is necessary. This ensures that employees can safely evacuate without being exposed to danger.
3. Emergency Response Opportunities
Employees should be able to intervene to ensure their own safety if they encounter a serious and imminent danger and cannot report the situation to their superiors. In this case, the employer should allow employees to intervene within the framework of their current knowledge and technical equipment. In addition, employees cannot be held responsible for the interventions made unless they are negligent or careless.
Conclusion
In sum, evacuation of workers in emergency situations should be carefully considered within the framework of the employer’s responsibilities and obligations. Ensuring the safety of employees should be considered both a legal obligation and an ethical obligation. Effective evacuation plans and informing employees are key to creating a safe environment in the workplace.
The Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 of Türkiye, has brought comprehensive obligations to employers to take action in emergencies and give obligation to the employer to transfer the workers from the dangerous areas to safety to. The employees are also given the right to refrain from working in situations of imminent danger.
