MİSGEP Meets Mining Sector Employers and NGO Executives for the 20th Time in Kütahya, the City of Mining
As part of 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 20th session of the “MİSGEP Mining Sector Consultation Meetings” was held in Kütahya. The initiative aims to improve occupational health and safety (OHS) conditions in mining workplaces and increase awareness across 25 provinces in seven regions of Turkey. The meeting was attended by Head of the Department of Legislation Affairs at the Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety İsmail GÜLTEKİN, as well as representatives from İŞKUR, the Social Security Institution (SGK), the Provincial Directorate of Industry and Technology, Turkish Coal Enterprises (TKİ), Dumlupınar University, Zafer Development Agency, MÜSİAD, KOSGEB, mining companies, OHS service providers (OSGBs), and NGO executives from the Kütahya region.
In his opening remarks, İsmail GÜLTEKİN outlined the general situation of OHS among workplaces and employers in the Kütahya region, emphasizing that occupational diseases and workplace accidents can have consequences that undermine social peace and cohesion. Quoting “One cannot prevent what one does not know,” Gültekin highlighted that both globally and in Turkey, OHS regulations originated from the mining sector. He also provided information to participants about the Ministry’s current incentives related to occupational health and safety, concluding his speech by expressing his gratitude to all attendees for dedicating their time to participate in the session.
During the consultation session, MİSGEP Team Leader Gökhan GÜLER and Dr. Hacer KAYHAN shared insights with participants on global best practices in occupational health and safety in the mining sector, legal obligations regarding mining and administrative fines, compensations following workplace accidents, the impact of unionization on OHS, pneumoconiosis as one of the most common occupational diseases in the sector, and the costs and benefits of preventing workplace accidents. After each presentation, participants shared their comments and experiences, fostering an interactive exchange of ideas.
