The Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety (DGOHS) of the Ministry of Family Labour and Social Services (MoFLSS) met with Joint Health and Safety Units in Ankara.

The Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety of MoFLSS held a meeting with Joint Health and Safety Units operating in the province of Ankara on 10 November 2020. Deputy Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Mr. Burhanettin KURT, DGOHS experts and representatives from Joint Health and Safety Units attended the meeting chaired by the Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Mr. Cafer UZUNKAYA.

Mr. UZUNKAYA, who made the opening speech of the meeting, stated that everyone has the fundamental right to work in healthy and safe workplaces, and that the activities of joint health and safety units that guide employers to this right are important. Saying that it is not right for workplaces to receive OHS services only to fulfill their legislative responsibilities, Mr. UZUNKAYA mentioned that this service should be considered with a feeling of “saving one person saves all of humanity” and joint occupational health and safety units should inform employers in this direction.

In his speech, Mr. Cafer UZUNKAYA emphasized that the investments made in the field of OHS should not be seen as an element of cost, and emphasized the importance of occupational health and safety units to instill this idea in the workplaces by carrying out an effective work through increasing the quality of the service they provide, and he also conveyed the good news that he will often meet with the authorized institutions to get their opinions and suggestions and for them to express their expectations.

At the meeting, information was also given in regards to the activities carried out in order to develop and coordinate the OHS culture in the organized industrial zones in Turkey, together with the Organized Industrial Zones Higher Council (OSBUK) of the Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety.  Joint health and safety units expressed their problems and the requests they have in the field and conveyed their determination to support the activities to be carried out in the field of OHS with a proactive approach.