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 Konya after Kahramanmaraş to improve occupational health and safety conditions in particularly in mining workplaces but also in other very hazardous sectors and to raise awareness on the subject. Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Cafer UZUNKAYA and the representatives of other public institutions, mining enterprises operating in Konya and senior directors of NGOs participated in the meeting which was held on 8 July.
In the opening speeches, Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Mr. Cafer UZUNKAYA stated, “Occupational health and safety is an area that concerns 84 million people in Turkey. Of course, the state implements regulatory and supervisory measures, but it should be remembered that all parties, from employers to employees, and public institutions to non-governmental organizations should be mobilized in addition to the legal regulations or inspections in order to establish the culture of occupational health and safety in the country. MISGEP, our EU project with a budget of 17.6 million Euro, which we are currently carrying out, aims to raise awareness in the field of OHS by reaching out to employers, employees, universities and technical schools in many fields, especially from very dangerous sectors such as mining and construction, to sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture in order to establish sustainable occupational health and safety. I believe that the trainings to be given in this context in the following part of the programme will be beneficial and I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to all the participants.”
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 the 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.
“MISGEP Mining Sector Consultation Meetings”, which will be held between June and September 2021, within the scope of the “Technical Assistance Component” of MISGEP, will continue in Antalya on 9 July.