Migration of Occupational Injuries
Introduction
A globe(sphere) is formed by the gathering of countless points that are in equal distance to a certain point. Although, when ‘global’isation is mentioned, spreading of equality comes to our mind, this is not always the case. As a result of migration of environmentally and biologically hazardous production methods from developed countries to the developing ones, occupational injuries increases.
Methods
Turkey is chosen as a case study. Capacity rise in certain export oriented sectors is going to be compared with the increase in occupational injuries in the last 10 years. Insufficieny in instutitional structures in terms of struggle against occupational risks are going to be mentioned.
Results
In the last 10 years the capacity of Turkish shipbuilding and main metal sector rose remarkably.
- Production in shipbuilding rose 3,24 times and export driven production rose 3,91 times.
- Production also increased in main metal sector. Total production rose 39%, capacity utilisation ratio rose from 70% to 85%.
When occupational injury and number of diseases are examined, a signifiacnt rise can be seen. From 1997 to 2006 in shipbuilding and main metal sectors;
- occupational injuries rose 2,7% and occupational diseases rose 36%,
- continious total disability rate among the accident survivors is 12,9%,
- children under the age of 14 facing occupational injuries rose 23,2%.
It should be noted that these are only the facts that can be observed on the surface. Because scientific studies reveals that informal sector that is in uprise is almost reaching 50%.
Discussion
As a developing country, Turkey’s health, safety and environmental public service channels remains insufficient, resulting from the immense rise in capacity that Turkey is not ready neither for proper risk assesment nor combatting against risks; occupational injuries and deaths related to these increases.
Parallel to the globalisation, occupational safety and health preventions should be globalised as well. This problem should not be regarded as only Turkey’s problem. As a solution, countries exporting occupational hazards should start dealing with this very humane problem of the developing countries immediately. Service channels that could realise the application of protective, therapeutic and holistic approaches should be supported.
Key Words
Transfer of hazards, occupational injuries, instituionalisation
* Director, Fisek Institute Science and Action Foundation of Child Labour