The biggest accident starts with the smallest negligence.
Let’s follow the rules of occupational safety in order not to say if only.
Occupational health and safety is a serious concept as one of the most important issues of our lives. In our country, occupational health and safety awareness has increased in recent years and the activities carried out in this field have also accelerated. In this interview, we will learn about the regulations and activities on occupational health and safety. Funda Bekişoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Martura Stones Company, which considers occupational health and safety issues as a part of production and system, answered the questions of Stone World magazine.
Funda Bekişoğlu is one of the leading names in the marble industry. A graduate of METU Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Business Administration, Bekişoğlu worked as a system and project manager at Koç Holding and then as finance coordinator and vice chairman of the board of directors at Turan Bekişoğlu Mermer A.Ş., the family company. Bekişoğlu, who is also the chairman and vice chairman of the board of directors of Martura Stones Dış Ticaret A.Ş. and Marmiro Stones, aims to contribute to social life and human development by taking part in various foundations, non-governmental organisations and social responsibility projects besides his business life. We talked to him about his experiences, achievements and occupational health and safety in the marble sector. Bekişoğlu, who also plays an active role in sectoral organisations such as IMIB and TUMMER, contributes to the development of the marble sector and adds value to Turkey’s exports.
Could you tell us briefly about occupational health and safety?
In recent years, in parallel with the increase in awareness of Occupational Health and Safety in our country, the activities carried out in this context are gaining momentum. The main reasons for this; due to the increase in occupational accidents, the cost increases caused by the loss of labour force and time increase and have a negative impact on the employer and the country’s economy.
Of course, official audits and administrative fines have also forced workplaces to take the necessary measures in terms of Occupational Health and Safety and to increase the level of awareness. While most workplaces now see Occupational Health and Safety issues as a part of production and system, some workplaces unfortunately continue to see it as a cost and waste of time.
In your opinion, can you evaluate the occupational health and safety activities in our country?
Instilling Occupational Health and Safety culture in employees, employers, in short, all stakeholders through trainings, publications, conferences, etc. will be beneficial in terms of creating a safer and healthier working environment. In fact, teaching Occupational Health and Safety as one of the basic courses in schools will contribute to raising awareness starting from the basic education level.
The legal responsibility of employers is heavy, so what are the responsibilities of occupational safety experts and employees?
Employers get help from Occupational Safety Experts. The legislator has also determined the obligations of Occupational Safety Specialists and held them as responsible as the employer.
Duties of the Occupational Safety Expert;
Guidance
Risk Assessment
Work Environment Surveillance
Training, Information, Registration
Cooperation with Related Units
Occupational Safety Specialist obligations;
Occupational Safety Specialists, while performing their duties specified in the regulation, are obliged not to disrupt the normal flow of work as much as possible and to contribute to the provision of an efficient working environment, to keep confidential information about the employer’s and workplace’s professional secrets, economic and commercial situation.
Occupational Safety Specialists are liable to the employer to whom they provide services due to their negligence in the execution of Occupational Health and Safety services.
Occupational Safety Specialists are obliged to notify the Provincial Directorate of Labour and Employment Agency to which the workplace is affiliated in writing if the employer fails to fulfil the measures to be taken regarding Occupational Health and Safety notified in writing to the employer within a reasonable period of time to be determined, in cases requiring emergency suspension and those that pose a life-threatening danger such as fire, explosion, collapse, chemical leakage.
The Occupational Safety Expert is obliged to write the determinations and recommendations regarding the work carried out in the workplace, the work carried out together with the Occupational Physician and other matters deemed necessary in the approved notebook.
Occupational Health and Safety is a subject defined by law (Law No. 6331) and binds both employers and employees
Employee obligations
Not to use and replace machinery, devices, tools, equipment, dangerous goods, transport equipment and other means of production and their safety equipment in the workplace correctly,
Not to endanger themselves and other colleagues,
To participate in Occupational Health and Safety trainings, to comply with the relevant instructions,
To use and maintain the personal protective equipment given to them,
Not to damage the machinery and equipment they work with,
Responsibilities such as informing their supervisors and the employee representative when they encounter a serious and imminent danger are determined by law.
What are the most difficult points in occupational health and safety practices?
Despite the existence of these laws, etc. in the workplaces, there are always difficulties in terms of applicability. For example, the low level of education of the working personnel and consequently, situations such as ignorance of the dangers, carelessness, not taking the danger seriously, and imprudence arising from the self-confidence of experienced personnel create difficulties in terms of the implementation of Occupational Health and Safety rules. Heavy working conditions in some workplaces in our country, life conditions outside of work, psychological problems can also be shown among the issues that directly negatively affect Occupational Health and Safety.
When we consider all these components, there may be situations where we have difficulty in applying Occupational Health and Safety rules from time to time. In such cases, we try to solve such problems by talking to the personnel themselves about the problem, giving trainings and giving examples.
There are also judicial decisions taken for employers. The most important and binding one of these is ‘The employer is obliged to take not only the measures required by the legislation in the workplace, but even the measures stipulated by today’s science and technology within the framework of respect for human life, which should be sanctified.
The safety of employees cannot be left to their OWN CAUTION…’. Therefore, the employer must take, implement and monitor all necessary measures in terms of OHS for its employees.
As Martura Stones;
Being aware of what is written above, it is our priority to take all measures to be taken in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 and related regulations within the scope of a very dangerous workplace.
In this context; we define and comply with the Annual Periodic Health Checks, Trainings, Risk Analyses, Emergency Plans, Drills, Periodic Test and Measurement issues in workplace-specific procedures. We ensure the participation of all stakeholders (employee, employer, Occupational Safety Specialist, Workplace Physician, Subcontractors, if any, etc.) in the preparation process of all these. After these procedures are established, they are periodically monitored and additional risks are evaluated and necessary revisions are made and measures are taken.
Apart from these procedures, hazards and risks specific to the enterprise are identified during field inspections and necessary measures are taken.
As Martura Stones, what are the precautions you take in the quarry and factory?
General Precautions
It is ensured that all personnel have vocational training certificates.
All personnel are recruited after receiving training for the machinery and equipment they will use.
Operators; forklift, crane, bucket, lorry, excavator, etc. If they will use work machines, they are started to work after their relevant driving licences or certificates are checked.
All personnel are started to work after their health reports are examined by the Workplace Physician and if they are declared FIT.
Each machine has an instruction manual and information on occupational safety rules is communicated to employees with these instructions.
Basic OHS Trainings and Working at Height Trainings are given periodically to all personnel.
All personnel are periodically trained on the use of Personal Protective Equipment.
All personnel are provided with hard hats, ear protectors, steel-toed boots, work clothes, work shoes and goggles in accordance with their work, and inspections are carried out on their use during field controls.
Training videos on safety precautions and accidents are broadcast in common areas.
Occupational accidents occurring in the enterprise are reported and analysed. As a result of these investigations, necessary measures are taken to prevent similar accidents from recurring.Measures taken at the forges
Employees are periodically informed about the Warning and Caution Signs positioned in the quarry.
Personnel entry is prevented by pulling safety ropes on the edges of the steps.
Unused step edges are closed with a block and personnel entry is prevented.
It is ensured that the resting areas of the employees are located away from the edge of the step or under the step.
Parts with the risk of slipping and falling such as joints, independent parts and rocks are routinely checked and necessary precautions are taken.
Before the wire cutting machines are installed, the wire parts are checked and necessary adjustments are made. Damping protector is used against the risk of wire breakage.
Wire cutting machines are installed and operated in such a way that they do not target each other or employees.- In order to prevent the energy cables of the machines from contacting with the ground or water, a carrier stand is provided (against the risks of cable crushing, electric shock, fire, etc.)
Electrical and mechanical parts of the machines are periodically checked.
Periodic maintenance of work machines such as diggers, excavators and rock trucks are carried out and recorded.
Loading, unloading, drilling and crushing activities of the bucket, excavator and rock truck are planned to be at least 30 metres away from other personnel.
When loading raw materials, the lorry or truck is positioned on flat ground.
Firstly, wooden wedges are placed on the trailer by the personnel according to the size of the raw material.
The relevant personnel moves away from this area and moves to a point where he/she can direct the heavy equipment operator.
The operator slowly drops the raw material in a way to coincide with these wedges as directed by the signaller.
After the loading process is finished, the condition of the load is visually checked.
The lorry or truck driver is removed from the vehicle until the whole process is completed. He is not allowed to be in or near the vehicle cabin. - Absolutely no wedging, wedging or any other operation is performed under the raw material in the load. Especially operators receive a lot of training and information on this subject.
After the cutting process is finished in the main mass, all machinery equipment and unnecessary materials in this area are removed.
In order to prevent the block from disintegrating and disintegrating during the overturning of the block, the ground part is cushioned with wedges, sand, etc. material.
All personnel are removed from this area before demolition.
The cut mass is separated from the main mass by balloon method.
Stone pieces are thrown into the separated area with the help of a construction machine to prevent the cut mass from sliding back.
This process continues until the cut mass is completely separated from the main mass.
All workers are kept at a safe distance during these operations. Measures taken at the factory
Employees are periodically informed about the warning and caution signs positioned in the factory.
Manual Lifting and Handling Trainings are given to employees against the risks of hand & foot injuries and injuries during the handling and transfer of dimensioned marble and field practices are monitored.
Finished and semi-finished products are stacked at a maximum height of 3 metres to prevent the risk of tipping.
Protective equipment is used against the risk of the plates tipping over on the trestle.
In the transport of heavy loads such as blocks etc. with cranes, certified personnel are employed and there are no people around or under the loads. Loads are carried at the level closest to the ground. Carrying apparatus such as slings, chains, etc. are constantly checked and damaged ones are withdrawn from use.
The areas where work is carried out for maintenance and repair works are restricted to outside interventions and the necessary warning signs are hung.
All protective equipment belonging to all machines are kept active and periodically checked.
It is ensured that the personnel working on the epoxy oven line, where harmful chemicals such as epoxy and acetone are used, use goggles, masks and gloves and are trained on their use. Ventilation conditions of the working area are provided and necessary precautions are taken against possible fire and flare risks.STONE WORLD TR
https://stoneworldtr.com/mermer-sektorunde-is-sagligi-ve-guvenligi-martura-stonesun-basarili-uygulamalari/
- In order to prevent the energy cables of the machines from contacting with the ground or water, a carrier stand is provided (against the risks of cable crushing, electric shock, fire, etc.)
