At least 177 workers killed in workplace accidents across Turkey in April

At least 177 workers, including 4 children, 10 women and 8 immigrants/refugees, died in workplace accidents across Turkey in April, according to a monthly study released by a nongovernmental organization focused on worker health and safety issues.

According to data compiled by the Workers Health and Work Safety Assembly (İSİGM), at least 177 laborers have lost their lives in April, increasing the number of workers who lost their lives in the last four months of 2018 to 575.

İSİGM stated that 129 of the 177 workers were contracted, 48 were farmer and artisan. Of the workers, 10 were women, 4 were children and 8 were refugees/immigrants.

İSİGM data has showed that the highest number of occupational homicides occurred in sectors of construction, commerce/bureau, transportation, municipality, energy and health. Only one of the workers was a union member.

While the most of the occupational homicides occurred in İstanbul province, traffic/shuttle accident, falling down from height and getting trapped under debris were mentioned among the prime causes of the occupational homicides.

On Jan. 6, 2018, the İSİGM published a report saying that 2,006 workers died at work throughout 2017. That number marked an increase from 2016, when 1,970 workers were killed in Turkey. According to the İSİGM, five workers were killed every 24 hours last year. Of the 2,006 workers who were killed on the job in 2017, 116 were women.

İSİGM is an NGO comprising workers, workers’ relatives, doctors, engineers, academics, journalists and lawyers who deal with labor issues. In its latest report, the group once again requested that thorough investigations be conducted to better prevent workplace diseases and injuries.

On Feb. 14, Turkey’s Labor Ministry announced that 27 workers have been killed in the construction of İstanbul’s third airport since it began in May 2015. That announcement came only after unconfirmed reports that 400 workers have been killed so far in work accidents at the multi-billion dollar project’s site, operated by the İstanbul Grand Airport (IGA).

from Stockholm Center for Freedom https://stockholmcf.org/at-least-177-workers-killed-in-workplace-accidents-across-turkey-in-april/