Occupational Health and Safety Board Meetings in Our Country

Legislation and Operation

1. The Purpose of the Occupational Health and Safety Board

The Occupational Health and Safety Board (OHS Board) is a structure created to take occupational health and safety measures at workplaces, assess risks and ensure that employees work in a safe environment. The main purpose of the Board is to ensure the health and safety of employees, to prevent occupational accidents and diseases.

2. Legislative Framework

The Occupational Health and Safety Board in Turkey is regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 and the regulations issued in accordance with this law. According to this:

Board Requirement: In workplaces with 50 or more employees, it is mandatory to create an OHS Board in workplaces where continuous work lasting more than 6 months is performed.

Members of the Board: The board is chaired by the employer or the employer's representative; It consists of an occupational safety specialist, a workplace physician, a person responsible for human resources or personnel management, an employee representative and other relevant employees.

Frequency of Meetings: The OHS Board must meet at least once a month. However, these meetings can be held more often in dangerous workplaces or in case of a certain risk.

3. Functioning of OHS Board Meetings

Occupational health and safety board meetings are held in accordance with the previously determined agenda. Meetings should be regular, planned and result-oriented. The functioning of the meeting consists of the following steps:

Agenda Setting: The agenda is determined before the meeting and communicated to the participants. The agenda usually includes topics such as occupational accidents, dangerous situations, occupational safety trainings and health reports.

Realization of the Meeting: The meeting is opened by the chairman of the board. The agenda items are discussed one by one and the necessary measures are taken. Occupational safety specialist and workplace physician present their reports and express their recommendations. The employee representative, on the other hand, communicates the demands of employees on health and safety.

Decision-Making: The decisions taken as a result of the meeting are recorded with the minutes. Decisions are implemented in the form of measures that must be implemented in the workplace.

Follow-up and Audit: The decisions taken are regularly followed and the applications made are evaluated. If there are shortcomings or glitches, they will be reviewed and updated at subsequent meetings.

4. Responsibilities of the OHS Board

The main responsibilities of the OHS Board are as follows:

• To ensure the continuous improvement of health and safety conditions at work,
• To carry out risk assessment and to take preventive measures for occupational accidents,
• To organize occupational health and safety trainings,
• To follow the improvement processes after work accidents and occupational diseases,
• Preparing and implementing emergency plans.

5. The Impact of Board Decisions on the Employer

The decisions taken by the Occupational Health and Safety Board are binding on the employer. The employer is responsible for the implementation of these decisions. If the employer does not take the measures recommended by the board, this situation may lead to legal liability for occupational accidents and occupational diseases. There is also a risk of facing legal sanctions.

6. Recommendations For the Effective Functioning of the Board

There are some issues that need to be taken into account in order for the functioning of the Occupational Health and Safety Board to be efficient:

Regular Meetings: Meetings should be held regularly and decisions should be followed meticulously.

Transparent Communication: It is important to clearly address the demands and feedback of employees in the board in order to create a safe working environment.

Education and Awareness Raising: It is necessary to continuously educate and raise awareness of employees on occupational health and safety issues.

Proactive Approach: Identifying possible risks in advance and taking the necessary measures makes the board more effective.

The Occupational Health and Safety Board has a critical importance in order to provide a safe and healthy working environment in workplaces. Its establishment and effective operation in accordance with the legislation makes it possible for both the employer to fulfill its legal obligations and to ensure the safety of employees.