A Turkish safety body has raised concerns over a proposed legal change it fears could blur the boundaries of responsibility.
In brief:
A prominent Turkish occupational health and safety association is urging increased expert involvement in the upcoming legal revision of the “employer” definition, cautioning that unclear wording could lead to confusion.
The association, ISG-BIR, has announced plans to submit detailed recommendations, emphasizing that how “employer” is defined will directly affect both employer obligations and the responsibilities of occupational health and safety (OHS) professionals.
This appeal comes at a critical time, as Turkey faces growing concerns about workplace safety, underscored by a recent report revealing 121 worker fatalities in February 2025 alone.
In detail:
A prominent Turkish occupational health and safety (OHS) association is urging increased expert participation in the upcoming legal revision aimed at redefining the term “employer” within the country’s national safety legislation.
Local news sources Halkın Sesi and Giynik Gazetesi report that on 15 May 2025, the İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Uzmanları Birliği (ISG-BIR), or Union of Occupational Health and Safety Experts, issued a public statement regarding proposed legal changes.
In their statement, ISG-BIR said they had thoroughly reviewed the suggested amendments to Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 35/2008.
The association emphasized that the definition of “employer” plays a crucial role in shaping employers’ legal responsibilities as well as the scope of authority and duties of OHS professionals in the workplace.
The İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Uzmanları Birliği (ISG-BIR), Turkey’s Union of Occupational Health and Safety Experts, has raised serious concerns about the proposed revision to the definition of “employer” under the national Occupational Health and Safety Law.
ISG-BIR warned that the current wording of the definition is ambiguous and open to multiple interpretations, which could lead to misuse and weaken the implementation of workplace safety regulations across the country.
Erkay Özgör, Chair of ISG-BIR, emphasized that a clear definition is essential not only to establish employers’ legal obligations but also to clearly delineate the responsibilities and authority of occupational health and safety professionals working on-site. He noted that any changes to this legal terminology would directly impact how OHS specialists perform their duties.
To address these concerns, ISG-BIR announced its intention to formally submit recommendations to the Presidency of the Republic’s Assembly and expressed its readiness to actively participate in the legislative process. The association also stressed the importance of including OHS experts in relevant technical committees to ensure informed decision-making.
This call for clarity and expert involvement comes amid troubling statistics on workplace safety in Turkey. A report released in early March 2025 by the labour watchdog ISIG revealed that 121 workers lost their lives in workplace incidents during February 2025 alone, including four children.
According to ISIG, the leading causes of these fatalities were traffic accidents, falls from height, and equipment failures, with the highest death tolls reported in the transportation, construction, and agriculture sectors. Vulnerable groups such as migrant and child workers were disproportionately affected, highlighting ongoing challenges related to oversight and enforcement, particularly in informal and precarious employment settings.
Notably, 96.7% of those who died were not union members, underscoring the critical role that union representation plays in promoting safer working conditions.
ISIG has reiterated its urgent call for stronger legislative measures and more effective enforcement to prevent further tragedies and improve workplace safety standards across all industries.
