Evaluation of Occupational Health and Safety Soma Mines in the Context of Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331
The aim of this study is to analyze the positive and negative effects of occupational health and safety methods applied in Soma mines.In this direction, the geological structure of Soma mines, geographical location, applied production techniques, employment model, occupational health and safety system in Soma mining site were examined. According to TKI data, Soma mines have about 600 million tons of lignite coal reserves.Intensive production in Soma mines brings many risks that threaten occupational health and safety. In addition, Soma mines were investigated on site and the opinions of experts and officials in the region were also investigated. In this way, it is discussed whether the occupational health and safety policies applied in Soma mines are sufficient.Besides, in terms of occupational health and safety practices, the period before Soma mine disaster and the period after Soma mining disaster were compared.As a result, investigations have been made on whether the necessary steps have been taken to eliminate the omissions and shortcomings seen in the period before the Soma mining disaster.
6331 Sayılı İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Kanunu Bağlamında Soma Madenlerinin İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Açısından Değerlendirilmesi
Bu araştırmanın amacı, Soma madenlerinde uygulanan iş sağlığı ve güvenliği yöntemlerinin olumlu ve olumsuz etkisini analiz etmektir. Bu doğrultuda, Soma madenlerinin jeolojik yapısı, coğrafi konumu, uygulanan üretim teknikleri, istihdam modeli. Soma maden sahasında oluşturulan iş sağlığı ve güvenliği sistemi açısından incelemeler yapılmıştır. TKİ verilerine göre, Soma madenlerinin yaklaşık 600 milyon ton kadar linyit kömürü rezervi bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle, Soma madenlerinde geniş çaplı linyit üretimi yapılmaktadır. Soma madenlerinde yoğun bir üretimin yapılması, iş sağlığı ve güvenliğini tehdit eden birçok riski de beraberinde getirmektedir. Ayrıca, araştırmada Soma madenleri yerinde incelenmekle birlikte, bölgede bulunan uzman ve görevlilerin görüşlerine de başvurulmuştur. Bu şekilde Soma madenlerinde uygulanan iş sağlığı ve güvenliği politikalarının yeterli olup olmadığı konusu tartışılmıştır. Bunun yanında, iş sağlığı ve güvenliği uygulamaları açısından Soma maden faciası sonrası dönem ile Soma maden faciası öncesi dönem mukayese edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, Soma maden faciası öncesi dönemde görülen ihmallerin ve eksikliklerin giderilmesine dönük gerekli adımların atılıp atılmadığı üzerine incelemeler yapılmıştır.
In general, mines are areas where many hazards are encountered. Especially in the mines, incidents of collapse and explosion are common. In addition, the structural properties of the mines also affect the emergence of this situation.
In this direction, it is very important to take preventive measures in order to prevent deaths and injuries in mines. For this reason, the mines need to be strengthened against the risk of accidents. One of the biggest hazards in mines is the risk of explosion. Therefore, it is of great benefit to take sequential security measures. In this context, the employer is required to take all precautions to avoid accidents at the mine. However, it is not enough for the employer to take measures alone.
İt is a fact that, in mines workers need to be very careful. Otherwise, the worker puts his life and his friends at risk. The way to reach this consciousness of workers is through occupational health and safety training. Therefore, it is very important that employers provide occupational health and safety training to workers.
With the entry into force of the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331, a new occupational health and safety concept has been adopted. Accordingly, the risk is not expected to occur and measures are taken in advance. For this reason, risk assessment is performed and the possible risks are recorded. Risks are minimized by risk assessment. This is why risk assessment needs to be done at every stage of mining. In this way, a significant reduction in potential accidents in mines is possible. After the Soma mine disaster, it has been the subject of controversy whether Soma mines have adequate risk assessment. Therefore, the question of whether there is negligence in the accident after Soma mine disaster has come to the agenda.
The general opinion was that there was a major negligence in the Soma mine disaster and there was not enough attention to occupational health and safety. Therefore, it is understood that the methods that should be followed in terms of occupational health and safety in Soma mines are not fully implemented. In this respect, some methods need to be implemented to ensure occupational health and safety.
First of all, the employer has to take all necessary measures for occupational health and safety. In this respect, it is very important that the employer takes all protective and preventive measures.
For this reason, the employer is obliged to provide a working environment in which occupational health and safety measures are taken. In addition, the employer should keep the working environment under constant surveillance.
Secondly, the employer must provide all tools, equipment and protective equipment to protect workers against potential hazards. In addition, the employer must inform the workers regularly. Therefore, it is very important to provide these protective equipment to the workers in Soma mines. Because there are many danger areas within the mines.
Finally, the employer should regularly provide occupational health and safety training to employees. In this way, employees will have learned the correct behavior models. When there is a risk of an accident in the mine, for example in case of an explosion or fire hazard, workers who are trained in occupational health and safety will be more careful. Therefore, occupational health and safety trainings contribute to the reduction of occupational accidents and occupational diseases. However, there are other important issues for the establishment of occupational health and safety in mines.
In this direction, it is very important to create ventilation system in mines, to make fortifications, to fight with fire and explosion and to apply first aid techniques. However, the application of these techniques varies according to the structure of the mine and the production model monitored. For example, Soma mines are suitable for the structure and the machines are used more effectively in the production stage of the mine. For this reason, there are mechanized feet in Soma mines. Besides, methane gas is not high in Soma mines. However, the air pressure in Soma mines is high and the pressure must be controlled. Therefore, it is of great importance to monitor the occupational health and safety policy in Soma mines.
As a result, the occupational health and safety methods applied in Soma mines were not sufficient until the Soma mine disaster occurred in 2014. In Soma mines, it was examined whether there is a change in occupational health and safety policies applied in mines after the Soma mine disaster. In this respect, the occupational health and safety methods in Soma mining site was investigated in 2018.