Within the scope of the cooperation protocol signed between the General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety (İSGÜM) of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Republic of Turkey (ÇSGB) and the OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone Regional Directorate, the results of the ‘Research and Support Project Aimed at Encouraging the Use of Safe and Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment in the Workplace’ were evaluated.
A technical briefing seminar regarding the project was held at OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone, with the participation of ministry experts and company representatives.
It will serve as a model for other Organized Industrial Zones
Speaking at the opening of the program, OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone Regional Manager Adem Arıcı emphasized that their organization is one of the regions that pays the most attention to occupational health and safety. Arıcı said, "We are a region that puts effort into this issue and creates awareness among the companies in our region through training."
Adem Arıcı emphasized that they are pressuring businesses to rectify the deficiencies identified in their business opening and operating license applications, stating, "We are trying to make the use of personal protective equipment a way of life. I believe it will be beneficial for our Ministry to take the work carried out here as a model and apply it to other regions."
“Do not use equipment without CE certification”
Yavuz Sultan Selim Eker, Head of the Market Surveillance and Inspection Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, stated that protective measures against occupational accidents and diseases are taken in workplaces, and that the use of personal protective equipment becomes mandatory when these measures are insufficient.
Citing records from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Eker stated that there are 2.8 billion people in the global workforce, and that 2.2 million people die each year due to work-related accidents or occupational diseases, adding that the country with the fewest work-related accidents in the world is the United Kingdom.
The Department Head stated that personal protective equipment is produced as a result of very serious R&D studies and issued the following warning regarding the use of products without CE certification: "If a worker is found using personal protective equipment that does not have CE certification, a fine of 500 TL per person will be imposed."
Eker thanked OSTİM OSB for supporting the project from the beginning, and conveyed the message, "Our collaboration will continue in other projects as well."
Following the presentations, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist Ahmet Ersoy summarized the project and shared the information they obtained from the field studies.
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