Reaction from TÜRK-İŞ Chairman Atalay to occupational murder

TÜRK-İŞ Chairman Ergün Atalay, in his statement regarding the work accidents in Manisa, Izmir and Zonguldak, said, "Our worker brothers who died and were injured were victims of negligence, greed for profit and lack of control. What happened is not a work accident, but literally a work murder." Atalay emphasized that occupational health and safety is not an area to save money and demanded that those who are negligent be punished in the most severe way.

TÜRK-İŞ Chairman Ergün Atalay made a statement about workplace murders on his social media account. Atalay included the following statements in his statement:

"In the last few days, 5 workers lost their lives in the collapse that occurred in the mine in Manisa's Soma district. 7 workers were injured in the explosion in the metal factory in Izmir's Torbalı district. 1 worker lost his life in the collapse in the illegally operated mine in Zonguldak's Kilimli district. Our dead and injured worker brothers were victims of negligence, greed for profit and lack of control, as in previous work accidents. What happened is not a work accident, but literally a work murder. Art These successive incidents should be investigated in all their aspects, and those who are negligent in occupational health and safety and those who cause work accidents should be punished in the most severe way.

As it is known, occupational health and safety is one of the most fundamental issues in working life. Unfortunately, every year thousands of employees lose their lives or are injured due to work accidents. When the causes of accidents are examined, it is seen that most of these accidents can be prevented with necessary precautions and inspections. Everyone, especially employers, should know this clearly: Occupational health and safety is not an area where savings can be made. Employers must be ensured to fully fulfill their legal obligations, inspections must be strengthened, and necessary measures must be prevented from being postponed on the grounds of cost.

Policies that will end work accidents and occupational diseases in all workplaces, especially in mines, should be implemented in the most effective way and with determination. Economic and social policies that are not based on human life should be stopped. In particular, reopening of closed or suspended mines without providing the necessary safety conditions is attempted murder. Those responsible for such practices should be punished in the most severe way. As TÜRK-İŞ, we emphasize once again that workplace murders are not fate; We demand that all necessary steps be taken without delay to protect the right to life of employees. "May God have mercy on the workers who lost their lives, our condolences to their grieving families, and we wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured."