ISGIP PROJECT “Improvement of Occupational Health and Safety Conditions at Workplaces
in Turkey”

Identification

Country: Turkey

Sector(s): Metal, Mining and Construction

Time and Duration: January 2010- February 2012 (25 Months)

Budget: 3.433,600 Million Euro (Funded by EU and Turkish Government)

Organizations Involved

Directorate General for Occupational Health and Safety in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security is the contractor of the project.

In the field of occupational health and safety, Turkey has legislative, practical and institutional knowledge accumulated over the past 150 years. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLLS) is in cooperation with related ministries and representatives of workforce that play the key role in improving occupational health and safety.

The Ministry of Labour was established in 1946 and with the endorsement of the Law of 3146 enforced on January 1985; the Ministry of Labour has been rearranged as “Ministry of Labour and Social Security”. The task of ensuring occupational health and safety is given to the Directorate General of Workers Safety under the structure of Ministry of Labour. The Directorate General fulfilled its duty as Department of Workers Health between 1983 and 2000 and restructured as Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety (DGOHS) in the year 2003.

DGOHS has implemented so many international and national projects related to its field of interest such as:

  • EU funded “Improvement of Health and Safety Conditions in Workplaces in Turkey” (İSGİP) project which has the overall objective to introduce OHS competencies in SMEs in Turkey and to improve the OHS management capacity at all levels, starting with the construction, mining, and metal sectors in 5 regions (Ankara, Kocaeli, Zonguldak, Kütahya and Denizli).
  • “Technical Assistance for Development of Regional Laboratories of Occupational Health and Safety Center (İSGÜM)” project which aims to supply technical support to İSGÜM Regional Laboratories and to train staff in order to give assistance to the workplaces (especially SMEs) about implementation of national OHS legislations in the regions of Adana, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri and Bursa;
  • National funded project on “Raising Awareness of OHS Professionals and Identification and Diagnosis on Occupational Diseases in Turkey”.
  • DGOHS has also conducted another national funded project for ship dismantling industry as “Determining Occupational Risks on Ship Recycling Industry by Risk Assessment and Workplace Measurements”.

In addition to this, DGOHS has international and national cooperation with the following:

  • Dresden BGAG Protocol – Germany
  • DGUV – German Social Accidents
  • BAUBG Protocol – Germany
  • European Agency for Occupational Health and Safety at Work (EU-OSHA) Arrangement
  • Cooperation Protocol on Effective Communication in OHS with Anadolu University
  • Developing Occupational Health and Safety Conditions in Shipyards Protocol
  • Protocol with Ministry of National Education
  • Protocol with Ministry of Public Works and Settlement.

Pilot studies were conducted in 16 SMEs selected in Ankara, Denizli, Kocaeli, Kütahya and Zonguldak and the applications conducted in these SMEs were also implemented in 112 SMEs during the Project. SMEs were chosen on voluntary basis.

  • Ankara: 3 metal SMEs namely; NA-ME Endüstri Ürünleri San. ve Dış Ticaret A.Ş., İMTES İmalat Teknolojileri San. Tic. Ltd., NETMAK Kesici Takım İmalat ve Pazarlama Ltd. Şti, and 3 construction SMEs namely BERAL Yapı Tes. İnş. Ltd. , BESA İnşaat A.Ş. , YG İnşaat Taahhüt Turizm Madencilik San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.)
  • Denizli: 2 metal SMEs namely; GERMETAL Mak. San. Müh. Ltd., Okan Haddecilik ve Tekstil San. Tic. Ltd. and 1 mining SME namely; Kur Mermer A.Ş.
  • Kocaeli: 2 metal SMEs namely; SOLİ Gemi İnş. San. Tic. Akfel Mühendislik Enerji Tesisleri, A.Ş. 1 construction SME namely; Kent Konut A.Ş.
  • Kütahya: 1 mining SME namely Mehmet Ali Cantürk Madencilik
  • Zonguldak: 1 metal SME, namely Çınar Boru Profil San Tic. A.Ş. and 2 mining SMEs; namely ; Arslanlar Maden ve NakliyecilikTic. San. Ltd. and Arılar Madencilik San. Tic. A.Ş.

A Consortium of five members supplied field experts to the Project : Austrian Academy for Occupational Medicine in association with I.A.L. – Friuli Venezia Giulia, CEEN Economic Project and Policy Consulting GmbH, Lattanzio e Associati SpA and IKADA Consulting Ltd. supplied field experts to the project.

Description

Introduction
The overall objective of the project is the improvement of working conditions at workplaces in Turkey. This objective is also in line with the objectives of the Turkish National Occupational Health and Safety Policy 2009-2013. The project focuses on small and medium sized enterprises having between 10 and 250 employees in three industrial sectors in five provinces.
The targeted industry sectors are “Mining”, “Construction” and “Metals” in the provinces of Ankara, Denizli, Kocaeli, Kütahya, and Zonguldak. The aim of the project is to extend the results and experiences to all shareholders throughout Turkey. Three components were implemented in the course of the project:

  • Implementation of occupational health and safety management systems in small and medium sized enterprises;
  • Training of occupational health and safety professionals and other experts regarding occupational health surveillance, occupational hygiene and a recording system for occupational accidents and diseases;
  • Awareness raising by implementation of a promotional campaign for occupational health and safety.

The project strategy relies on choosing SMEs from three different economic sectors namely construction, mining and metal where occupational accidents and diseases are the highest, and introducing an occupational health and safety management system (OHS-MS) to help them improve working conditions. The key activities conducted within the activities of the project were establishing OHS-MS in selected SMEs, training of social partners, occupational health professionals, public sector facilitators and SME personnel on Organizational Health and Safety Management System, Basic OHS, record keeping etc. and awareness rising and promotion. The İSGİP OSH-MS covers all important topics of international standards, ILO Guidelines on OHS Management Systems (ILO, 2001), as well as OHSAS 18001:2007 standard. It also covers the main legal requirements of health and safety managements.
A different approach was taken compared to traditional OHS-MS; that is changing the safety culture through management commitment and performance measuring and positive feedback mechanism. Safety culture is believed to be consisting of shared values (what is important), and beliefs (how things work). The interaction between the organization’s structure and control systems will produce behavioral norms (“the way we do things around here”). It is now generally recognized that the management of health and safety should embrace – in a holistic way – the interactions between the working environment and equipment, management systems and procedures, and the people within the organization.

Figure 1: Components of OHS Management System

Aim(s)
The aim of İSGİP Project is to improve the health and safety conditions of workers at work, and improve awareness on health and safety issues and to ensure the implementation of the related EU acquis in Turkey.
What was done and how?

Four basic steps were followed in order to establish a management system of Health and Safety in the workplaces selected for the ISGIP Project.

  • Internal workshops on introducing OHS-MS in the workplace and joint definition of OHS-MS implementation roadmap and on hazard identification and risk assessment were conducted.
  • OHS management processes and management system were designed.
  • Health and safety plan was prepared followed by an agreement for the implementation road map.
  • Internal Audit and Management Review were conducted. Individual consultations on needs basis were also taken into account.

It was noted during the project that in order to establish an OHS-MS in SMEs, it is necessary to allocate the necessary time, financial and human resources and the company employees should actively participate in developing an OSH-MS. As shown in Figure 2, being the components of an OHS management system business organization and OHS organization are top management responsibilities. 10 main steps of developing an OHS-MS implemented within the context of the İSGİP Project is as follows:

Figure 2: 10 Main Steps in OHS-MS

Step1: OHS Policy and Organization
The OHS policy confirms the company’s commitment that no-one should be injured or get sick because of hazards at work. All legal safety and health requirements will be fulfilled. And OHS organization includes workers safety delegate in enterprises employing more than 50 employees and an OHS council in enterprises employing more than 50 employees, a safety expert inside or outsourced and occupational health services.

Step2: Responsibilities and Rights in OHS
The management team, line managers and foremen are responsible for the health and safety at workplace. The management is responsible to ensure safe work environment, proper job instructions and training of workers and monitoring. Workers are also responsible for following safety rules and instructions and reporting hazards and incidents.

Step3: Integration of OHS into Business Operations
Safety and health is taken into consideration when purchasing new machines, tools and materials and planning new processes. Buildings, ventilation electric installation, machines, vehicles and lifting devices are serviced and maintained properly to keep them in safe condition.

Step4: Workplace Risk Assessment
The employer has to identify hazards at work, which may cause accidents or occupational diseases. Hazards are removed or controlled. Control is based on risk assessment. Risk assessment is based on deciding on how severe is the possible accident or disease and how likely is the accident or disease. 3T Risk Assessment method is used in İSGİP Project which is explained under section Methods and Tools. All different types of hazards are covered in identification of hazards. These hazards may be accidental, psychosocial, chemical and biological, physical and ergonomic hazards.

Step5: Occupational Health Services
Employers have to organize Occupational Health Services for employers. Early recognition and prevention and prevention of occupational diseases and work-related risks, medical examinations, provision of recommendations for improvement of working conditions, informing and advising the employees about work related illnesses.

Step6: Performance Monitoring
Inspections of machines and equipment like cranes, devices, pressure vessels, compressors, fire extinguishers, electric installations and tools, mobile working platforms etc. were conducted. Working environment and work practices were inspected via methods of TR Observation and Elmeri and employee surveys were also conducted.

Step7: Incident Reporting and Investigation
Taking into account that reporting all the accidents to the degree of slight, severe and fatal incidents, near miss accidents, illnesses are opportunities to learn and improve on health and safety, the causes of the accidents are found and some preventive measures are developed within the context of the Project.

Step8: Continual Improvement:
Eliminating, minimizing and control are the key factors for continuous improvement in health and safety conditions at workplaces. Encouraging employees about making improvements, giving prior importance to prevention before personal protective devices, audits on health and safety and management reviews for implementing the improvements on Health and Safety issues are the steps to be followed for continual improvement.

Step9: Training and Communication
It is essential to give trainings to the employees on recruitment, when the job tasks change and when new work equipment has been introduced about rights and duties, possible hazards of his/her job. Employees should also be informed about safety policy, risk assessments, annual plans, newsletters, incident investigations at workplace in written form like notice boards and orally.

Step10: Emergency Preparedness
Types of emergencies the enterprises can face should be identified to improve emergency preparedness. There should be an emergency plan at workplace, and the employees should be trained periodically on emergency situations. Emergency exits should be accessible and properly marked. Appropriate first aid kits should also be available at the workplace.

Recording System for Occupational Accidents and Diseases
As part of record keeping part in Project, the studies intended for analizing the recording and statistics systems existing in Germany, Sweden and Finland as well as the present system in Turkey have been made. It was decided to determine the differences in collecting information approaches and methods of application between these countries and Turkey, and prepared a proposal. In this context, it was detected that, the forms for information collection presently used by SGK (Social Security Instution-SSI), MoLSS and SSI are inadequate and are not compatable with EU standards; that the information collected does not serve for the purpose of DGOHS; that the “case ID” approach is not in application; that no information regarding employees in the scope of 4b and 4c is being collected; that there is no discrimination made as fatal accident, dangereous accident and accident; and that the information (data) regarding occupational diseases is not supported by any decision authority.
In order for our works to be implemented within compatibility with the other units, we were at all times in coordination with

  • Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Basic Health Services
  • MoLLS, LIB
  • DGOHSMoLLS, IT Dept.
  • SSI, Short Term Insurance Dept.
  • SSI, Public Service Pension Operations Dept.
  • SSI, Social Security Application Development Dept.
  • MoLLS, Directorate General of Labour

In this context our proposal that, the Form presently in use should be no longer in operation and instead it should be replaced by new forms, was found valuable and the MoLLS took a decision to use the new forms. The subject forms are designed in the form of multiple choice answer lists to enable them to be filled easily and quickly. The questions and answer keys employed are strictly in compliance with the standards of ESAW (European Statistics on Accidents at Work).
By this means, information on occupational accidents and diseases will be collected electronically by SSI, the information required by DGOHS will automatically be included in the information system of our General Management, and by means of statistics to be produced in EU standards, the initiation of procedures regarding occupational health and safety, and applicable in due time and easily by all related parties will be provided.
The activities conducted to achieve the goals of the project are as follows:

  • 16 Centers of Best Practice selected and provided comprehensive support in order to fulfill the requirements of occupational health and safety management systems,
  • 112 enterprises achieve suitable work organization plans/health and safety plans/risk assessment tools in order to fulfill the requirements of occupational health and safety management systems,
  • 1088 persons have taken OHS-MS trainings in 12 provinces,
  • 66 Occupational Health and Safety Expert, Assistant Occupational Health and Safety Expert have been trained in Bolu and Antalya,
  • 1002 persons have taken Occupational Health Surveilliance Trainings in 9 provinces,
  • 9 study tours (Austria, Finland, Belgium, UK, Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy) for public participants and 5 (Austria, Finland and UK) for SME participants have been implemented,
  • Sector specific models and tools for occupational health and safety management systems developed and implemented in the small and medium sized enterprises that are in the focus of this project,
  • 1500 participants targeted to attend 30 awareness raising seminars respectively round table discussions,
  • 5 regional promotional conferences have been organized in Ankara, Bursa, Kayseri,
  • 25 press conferences and a similar number of promotional events in the course of a road show held in order to promote the web based recording system for occupational accidents and diseases,
  • Numerous guidelines, booklets, folders, posters and leaflets printed and delivered in order to sustain the promotional activities.

Methods and Tools Used

3T Risk Assessment (RA) Tool
For risk assessment activities, 3T RA Tool is used for mining, metal and construction sectors in İSGİP Project. The process of the risk assessment method is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: The Process of the Workplace Risk Assessment

This method is based on the process of evaluating the risk(s) arising from hazard(s), taking into account the adequacy of any existing controls and the severity of injuries and illnesses. Opposed to the traditional identification of the likelihood of an occurrence of a hazardous event, 3T RA uses the level of prevention and control as shown in Figure 4. This method is based on the principle stated both in EU and Turkish legislation that it is the employer’s duty to identify hazards and risks at the working environment. Thus, if the hazards cannot be removed, it is also employer’s responsibility to take necessary measures to prevent accidents and illnesses.

Figure 4: 3T Risk Assessment Matrix

*Preventions and control is sufficient when:

  • Machines, tools and structures comply with law and standards
  • Work is designed and organized to be safe and healthy
  • Employees are trained and they actually use right (safe) working practices

In this method, hazards are determined and risk scores are given for some basic and specific modules. Basic modules are; accident hazards, psychical strain factors in the working environment, chemical and biological factors and musculoskeletal strain factors of the work. Specific modules are; internal transport and removal, driving in the public traffic, machinery and hand tools, fire safety, environmental issues, safety and behavioral culture in the workplace, property and business premises, installation and maintenance work, occupational health services and special characteristics of the target. Following the risk scores, recommendations to prevent the risks are presented to the management of the company assigning a responsible person for that specific task in a determined period of time.
Performance Monitoring Tools
 Elmeri Performance Monitoring Tool
Elmeri Performance Monitoring Tool is used in the metal sector in İSGİP Project. Elmeri is a systematic monitoring and inspection method for manufacturing industry developed in Finland in 1990’s and it was adapted to Turkish manufacturing industry. It is possible to use this tool as a management tool; as a tool for training the employees, a feedback-tool in order to improve safety behavior, a tool for safety competition between departments of the company and a tool for safety competition between companies. It depends on the total inspection of all areas or monitoring of representative sample areas with a correct/not correct score. 18 items were observed under seven groups namely; safety behavior, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), risk taking, order & tidiness, machine safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, floors and access routes, first aid & fire safety. And safety index is calculated according to the formula:

Elmeri Index = Correct x 100(%)
Correct + Not correct

TR-Index Monitoring Tool
TR-Index Monitoring Tool was developed in Finland in 1990’s for construction sector and it was adapted for Turkish construction sector in İSGİP Project. It is simple to learn and use, reliable, one A4 observation form is used. Both correct and not correct items are observed under six safety aspects namely, working habits, scaffolding & ladders, machines, protection against falling, lighting & electricity, order & tidiness.

TR-Index = Correct x 100(%)
Correct + Not correct

What was achieved?

  • Occupational accidents were prevented as much as possible and risks were reduced at 128 SMEs where the Project has been carried out.
  • As a result of the İSGİP Project, health and safety conditions in totally 128 SMEs were upgraded.
  • As a result of the trainings given during the Project, the capacity of health and safety professionals has also been upgraded.
  • A participant company titled “Akfel Mühendislik” have stated at the end of the project that their labor productivity has also been improved.
  • 10 Guides on metal, mining and construction sectors have been developed and published:

OHS-MS Guide for SMEs: Construction Sector
Risk Assessment, Performance Monitoring, Health Hazards: Construction Sector
OHS-MS Guide for SMEs: Metal Sector
Risk Assessment, Performance Monitoring, Health Hazards: Metal Sector
OHS-MS Guide for SMEs: Mining Sector
Risk Assessment, Performance Monitoring, Health Hazards: Mining Sector: Marble
Risk Assessment, Performance Monitoring, Health Hazards: Mining Sector: Coal
Occupational Diseases and Work Related Diseases Diagnosis Guide
Health Surveillance Guideline in Working Life
Best Practice in OHS-MS in EU

An example from COBP in İSGİP:

BEFORE AFTER

Exploitation and Transferability

The OHS–MS Guides customized for 3 sectors, risk assessment methods and manuals developed on monitoring methods in 3 sectors can be used by the other SMEs operating in the same sectors. Also following the same steps of this Project, new guidelines for different sectors can be produced.

Further information

Web: http//www.isgip.org
E-mail: [email protected]