MİSGEP Brings Together Employers and NGO Leaders in Artvin to Discuss the Mining Sector
Within the scope of the “Improving Occupational Health and Safety Especially in the Mining Sector Project (MİSGEP),” implemented by the Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety (İSGGM) and co-financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, the “MİSGEP Mining Sector Consultation Meetings,” which aim to improve occupational health and safety conditions in mining workplaces and increase awareness in this area across 25 provinces in seven regions of Turkey, continued in Artvin. The meeting was attended by Artvin Deputy Governor Aydın GÖÇER, President of the Artvin Chamber of Commerce and Industry Seçkin KURT, President of Artvin MÜSİAD Celal ÖZTÜRK, representatives of public institutions, as well as senior executives from mining companies and NGOs operating in the Artvin region.
In his opening remarks, Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Cafer UZUNKAYA emphasized that the meeting addressed key issues concerning human health, safety, and workplace risks in Artvin. Highlighting that approximately 2.78 million people lose their lives each year globally due to occupational accidents and diseases, Mr. UZUNKAYA stated, “By taking the right precautions, it is possible to prevent 100% of occupational accidents and 98% of occupational diseases. To overcome such a major issue, all 84 million citizens must act together.” He noted that since the enforcement of Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety in 2013, while the number of workplaces in Turkey has increased by 160% and the number of employees by 180% since 2002, fatal occupational accidents have decreased by 54%. He added, “When we look specifically at Artvin, we achieved a significant improvement with a 45% reduction in fatal occupational accidents between 2013 and 2020.”
Mr. UZUNKAYA further underlined that before 2013, no mining workplaces in Artvin received occupational health and safety (OHS) services, while today this rate has reached approximately 75%. He stressed that OHS is equally vital for both public and private sectors, adding that “Occupationa
