MISGEP Met with Employers and NGO Executives in Artvin to Consult the Mining Industry

Within the scope of MISGEP, which is carried out by the General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety (İSGGM) and financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, in order to improve the occupational health and safety conditions in mining workplaces and to raise awareness in this field, “MISGEP Mining Industry Consultation Meeting” covering 25 provinces in 7 regions of Turkey. Meetings” continues in Artvin. Artvin Deputy Governor Aydın GÖÇER, Artvin Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Seçkin KURT, Artvin MUSIAD President Celal ÖZTÜRK, representatives of public institutions, mining enterprises serving in the Artvin region and senior managers of NGOs attended the meeting.

General Manager of Occupational Health and Safety Mr. Cafer UZUNKAYA made the opening speeches and stated that as the General Directorate, a meeting will be held in Artvin province that closely concerns human health and safety and the risks encountered in working life. Stating that over 2 million 780 thousand people die in the world every year due to work accidents and occupational diseases and also stated that 84 million should be mobilized to tackle such a big issue. Emphasizing that the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 has been in effect since 2013, Mr. UZUNKAYA emphasized that while there has been an increase of 160% in the number of workplaces and 180% in the number of employees since 2002, there has been a 54% decrease in fatal occupational accidents and evaluation shows that when we consider our province of Artvin, we have achieved a significant improvement with a 45% reduction in fatal occupational accidents between 2013 and 2020.” Mr. UZUNKAYA, underlining that the number of workplaces receiving OHS service in the mining sector in Artvin until 2013 was zero, this rate is approximately 75% today, emphasizing that occupational health and safety is not only valid for the private sector but also for public institutions, emphasizing that it is the first agenda of every meeting. He stated that the article should be “occupational health and safety”. Mr. UZUNKAYA “Our omissions, mistakes and shortcomings should not be the reason for disasters. Recent forest fires have encouraged us to rethink. It's time to plant not just one but tens of plants for every child. We will follow the next processes as well,” he said.

In the consultation session of the meeting, MISGEP Team Leader Gökhan Güler and Dr. Instructor Hacer KAYHAN, studied examples from the World such as occupational health and safety practices in the mining sector, legal obligations regarding mining and administrative fines, compensation after work accidents, the effect of unionization on OHS, pneumoconiosis; the most common occupational disease in the industry. The cost and benefits of preventing work accidents. During the meeting, the opinions of the participants were taken after each topic.