Within the scope of Improving Occupational Health and Safety Especially in Mining Sector Project (MISGEP), implemented by the Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety (DGOHS) and financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, “MISGEP Mining Sector Consultation Meetings”, which cover 25 provinces around the 7 regions of Turkey, continue in Sivas to improve occupational health and safety conditions in mining workplaces and to raise awareness on the subject. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor of Sivas Mr. Abdullah Seçkin KOÇAK, Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Mr. Cafer UZUNKAYA, Provincial Deputy Director of the Employment Agency Mr. İbrahim Kurt, Rector of the Sivas Cumhuriyet University Prof. Dr. Alim YILDIZ, Vice-rector of Sivas University of Science and Technology Prof. Dr. Meftuni YEKELER, Provincial Deputy General Director of Social Security Institution Mr. Ahmet KALE, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board Members Mr. Ümit YERLİKAYA and Mr. Şener İPEK, President of Independent Industrialists and Businessman’s Association Salim EMİNOĞLU, Director of Organised Industrial Zone (OIZ) Emre TORUN, representatives of public institutions and mining enterprises operating in the Sivas region, joint health and safety unit staff, and senior directors of NGOs.
The Deputy Governor of Sivas Mr. Abdullah Seçkin KOÇAK who honoured the event by making a speech during the opening session, stated his wishes for this meeting, held within the scope of MISGEP, which is supported under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) 2, to be beneficial for the sector and for it to improve the occupational health and safety culture. He stated that he wishes for the continuation of the MISGEP team’s success, starting with the Director General of Occupational Health and Security, and it to become a blessing for Sivas and all of Turkey.
Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Mr. Cafer UZUNKAYA said, “When we look at the data between the years 2013-2019, fatal accidents rates per one hundred thousand have decreased by 41.3%. When we look specifically at Sivas we see that the number of workplaces have increased by 20.8% while the number of employees have gone up by 60.5%. Despite this positive progress on these numbers, a 43% decrease in fatal work accidents can be seen which is above average for Turkey. This accomplishment is not a coincidence. In the same period, Occupational Health and Safety services in Sivas has increased 42-fold. This means that the occupational health and safety professionals have started serving our workplaces much more. Occupational safety experts, occupational physicians, other healthcare personnel, are the biggest heroes of business life.” Mr. UZUNKAYA finished his speech by congratulating the Sivas Vocational and Technical High-School for their work as the project coordinator of the “Education at School, Safety at the Workplace Project” financed under the scope of MISGEP Grant Component.
