Turkey observes at least 425 work-related fatalities in three months

Duvar English

Turkey’s Worker Health and Work Safety (İSİG) Assembly reported at least 425 worker deaths for the first three months of 2024 in its “Work Homicides Report.”

According to the report, 161 deaths were recorded in January, 149 in February, and 115 in March; bringing the total to at least 425 work-related deaths across Turkey. 

The construction sector came first with 105 worker deaths once again, followed by transportation, agriculture, forestry, and metalworking sectors. 

The report also provided information on the ages of the deceased workers, highlighting the prevalence of child labor in Turkey’s various sectors.

In the first three months of 2024, 16 children under the age of 18 died in work-related accidents. Four of these were under the age of 14. 

Some 22 of the deceased were considered senior citizens over the age of 65. The number of worker deaths aged between 50-64 stood at 105. 

The report noted the most common causes of death as crushing under collapses, traffic accidents, falls from heights, heart attacks, and brain hemorrhages.

One work accident that occupied Turkish headlines was the Feb. 13 landslip in the Çöpler Gold Mine of eastern Turkey.

Nine workers were trapped under tonnes of chemical-laden soil, revealing a series of work and environmental safety negligences on the part of the operator Anagold Mining Company, and the Turkish Environment Ministry. 

Rescue teams were able to recover the body of one of the workers almost two months after the disaster, as the ongoing risk of further landslides halted rescue operations.