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 81 provinces around the 7 regions of Turkey, continue in Manisa, after İzmir to improve occupational health and safety conditions in mining workplaces and to raise awareness on the subject. Acting Deputy Governor of Manisa Mr. Mustafa ÖZKAYNAK, Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Cafer UZUNKAYA, Soma District Governor Fatih AKKAYA and the representatives of other public institutions, mining enterprises operating in Manisa and senior directors of NGOs participated in the meeting.
In the opening speech of the meeting, Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Cafer UZUNKAYA stated that as the Directorate General, they continue to support both employees and employers during the pandemic as they did before the pandemic. Mr. UZUNKAYA emphasized the importance of human life and stated that there is no doubt that occupational health and safety is one of the top priority issues to be considered, and added “With MISGEP, we aim to reach underground coal and metal mining workplaces in the country and the employees of these workplaces.” He stated “We desire to improve the occupational health and safety culture throughout Turkey, and especially in Manisa, which has the highest number of employees in the mining sector in the country.”
Acting Deputy Governor of Manisa Mr. Mustafa ÖZKAYNAK who gave his speech at the end of the opening session stated, “I would like to thank the Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety and all parties who contributed to the execution and implementation of this project, which is very important for the improvement of occupational health and safety”
In the consultation session of the meeting, MISGEP Team Leader Mr. Gökhan GÜLER and Asst. Prof. Dr. Hacer KAYHAN informed the participants on topics such as occupational health and safety practices in mining industry by reviewing examples from the world, legal obligations regarding mining and administrative fines, compensation after occupational accidents, the impact of unionisation on occupational health and safety, pneumoconiosis which is the most common occupational disease in the industry, and the costs and benefits of preventing occupational accidents. The opinions of the participants were received after each topic during the meeting.
