Occupational health and safety (OHS) is the whole set of measures taken and rules applied to prevent the risks employees may face in the workplace and to provide healthy, safe working environments. OHS aims to reduce workplace accidents and occupational diseases to a minimum level.
Thanks to occupational health and safety, the physical and psychological health of employees is protected. Employers and employees must identify potential hazards in the workplace, take appropriate precautions and provide safe working conditions. Within this scope, strategies such as OHS training, risk assessments, emergency plans and the use of safety equipment come into play.
Occupational health and safety does not only serve the purpose of protecting employees' health. It should also enable businesses to succeed by increasing work efficiency and employee motivation. Providing safe and healthy working conditions in the workplace allows employees to focus more on their work and work productively. Employers and employees must therefore be conscious of OHS and take the necessary steps to increase safety in the workplace by continuously following developments in this field. Occupational health and safety is important for both employees and businesses.
Occupational health is the entirety of the measures taken and procedures applied to protect and improve the physical and psychological health of employees. Occupational health aims to minimise the health risks that may arise in the working environment and to protect the general health of employees. Occupational health practices begin with identifying factors such as harmful substances, ergonomic problems, stress and psychosocial risks to which employees may be exposed in the workplace. It then covers bringing these factors under control.
Throughout the process, occupational health services include activities such as regular health checks for employees, ensuring health and hygiene standards in the workplace, and providing health training for employees. Occupational health protects employees' health and helps prevent workplace accidents and occupational diseases by increasing work efficiency.
Occupational safety is the entirety of the measures taken and rules applied to prevent the physical hazards and workplace accidents employees may face in the workplace. Occupational safety helps ensure the safety of employees in the workplace and minimise potential hazards. In general, occupational safety practices include risk assessments, hazard analyses, the use of safety equipment and safety training for employees.
Complying with occupational safety rules is very effective in preventing accidents and injuries that may occur in the workplace. In addition, work such as preparing emergency plans and carrying out regular drills is undertaken. This work helps employees be conscious and prepared in the face of potential hazards. Occupational safety both protects employees' health and safety and ensures business continuity for companies.
Occupational health and safety (OHS) involves taking all the measures needed to protect employees' health in the workplace and to provide a safe working environment. OHS ensures that employees are physically and psychologically safe. It thereby aims to minimise workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Analysing the risks in the workplace, planning appropriate protective measures and ensuring employee safety are among the fundamental aims of OHS.
The requirements within the scope of occupational health and safety are as follows:
Risk Analysis and Assessment: One of the most important duties of OHS is to identify the hazards in the workplace and carry out a risk analysis on this subject. This process involves defining potential sources of hazard, assessing how vulnerable employees are to these hazards and developing solutions for these risks. The analyses carried out can then be used as a guide for increasing safety measures in the workplace.
Providing Training to Employees: OHS also includes the process of informing and training employees on occupational safety and health matters. This training ensures employees have the awareness required to recognise the hazards in the workplace, learn the necessary safety procedures and act consciously to prevent workplace accidents. Training covers both theoretical and practical subjects. OHS training is also renewed regularly and planned on a range of subjects.
Providing Protective Equipment: OHS also covers supplying the personal protective equipment required to increase employee safety in the workplace. Equipment such as helmets, gloves, goggles and safety footwear serves to protect employees against potential accidents. Ensuring the correct use of this equipment and inspecting it regularly is also within the area of responsibility of OHS.
Preparing Emergency Plans: Being prepared for emergencies is among the important areas of work of OHS. Emergency plans are prepared for situations such as earthquakes, fires and chemical leaks, and employees are given training on how to act in these situations. In addition, regular drills make it possible to act effectively and quickly in emergencies.
Preventing Workplace Accidents and Diseases: One of the fundamental aims of OHS is to focus on minimising workplace accidents and occupational diseases. The working environment is therefore continuously inspected and brought into line with appropriate health and safety standards. Regular health checks are also carried out for employees. This makes early diagnosis of potential health problems possible.
Legal Compliance and Reporting: OHS ensures that businesses act in accordance with legal regulations relating to occupational health and safety. Reports are produced in line with the legislation and the necessary documents are prepared. This process helps protect the rights and safety of both employers and employees.
Occupational health and safety (OHS) involves work under many headings, such as minimising the risks employees may face in the workplace, providing a safe working environment and preventing occupational diseases. In this process, professionals with different areas of expertise work together. The duties and responsibilities of each specialist differ. The unique role and contribution of each specialist makes OHS work more effective.
The specialists involved in occupational health and safety are as follows:
Occupational Safety Specialist: Occupational safety specialists are professionals who develop safety measures by analysing the physical, chemical and biological risks in the workplace. Their duties include assessing hazards, establishing safety policies, providing training to employees and minimising risks. They also inspect whether the machinery and equipment in the workplace comply with safety standards.
Workplace Physician: Workplace physicians are responsible for protecting the physical and psychological health of employees. Their duties include monitoring employees' health by carrying out health screenings, pre-employment examinations and regular health checks. They also make recommendations aimed at preventing occupational diseases and provide medical intervention in emergencies.
Other Health Personnel (OHP): Other health personnel support the workplace physician and are responsible for inspecting employees' health and hygiene conditions. They take part in processes such as first-aid training and health screenings. OHP continuously monitor employees' health, aiming to identify potential risks in advance and raise health awareness.
Employer: Employers have primary responsibility for implementing occupational health and safety measures. Ensuring employee safety, providing a working environment that complies with legal regulations and cooperating with OHS specialists are among the employer's duties. The employer also provides OHS equipment and ensures employees use this equipment correctly.
Employees: Employees also play an active part in the occupational health and safety process. Complying with OHS rules, using protective equipment correctly and contributing to safety measures in the workplace are among employees' basic responsibilities. Employees also carry out functions such as reporting hazardous situations and attending occupational health training.
Occupational health and safety (OHS) equipment is the entirety of the materials that protect employees against the physical, chemical and biological risks they may be exposed to in the workplace. This equipment contributes to creating a safe working environment by minimising workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Personal protective equipment selected according to the sector, the nature of the work and the risks present plays a role in protecting employees' health and safety.
The most common OHS equipment is as follows:
Protective Headgear (Hard Hats): Hard hats serve to protect employees against head injuries. They are widely preferred in work carried out with activity overhead, particularly in construction, mining and the energy sector. They aim to protect the head from impacts, falling objects and electric shock.
Eye and Face Protection: Goggles, face masks and visors protect the eyes and face against risks such as chemical splashes, dust, smoke, radiation and mechanical impact. They must be used particularly in production areas such as welding, laboratories and chemical manufacturing.
Respiratory Protection: Dust masks, gas masks and filtered respirators serve to protect against harmful gases, vapours, dust and smoke. This equipment protects lung health and prevents the airways from being exposed to hazardous substances.
Work Gloves: Work gloves protect the hands against cuts, burns, chemicals and extreme hot and cold conditions. Manufactured from materials suited to the working environment, gloves are equipment that helps the work be carried out safely.
Protective Footwear: Steel toe-cap safety shoes or boots can protect the feet against falling heavy objects, slippery surfaces and electrical risks. They are used as basic safety equipment in sectors such as construction and mining.
Workwear and Aprons: Protective clothing such as workwear made from flame-resistant fabric, chemical-resistant aprons and high-visibility vests protect employees against risks such as heat, cold, chemicals and low visibility. They are also among the materials that increase visibility in the working environment.
Hearing Protection: Earplugs and ear defenders are equipment that protects the hearing of workers in loud environments. They are used in areas with intense noise such as industry, construction and airports.
Safety Harnesses: Designed for people working at height, safety harnesses prevent the risk of falling. They make it possible to work safely at height. They are very common in sectors such as construction, energy and telecommunications.
Face Shields: Face shields provide full protection for the face in high-risk work. Used in work where there is a risk of impact, splashing or sparks, they serve to prevent facial injuries.
Emergency and First Aid Kits: Emergency kits contain the materials needed in the event of an accident or sudden health problem. First aid kits allow rapid intervention in accidents.
Temporary Edge Protection Systems: Temporary edge protection systems are safety equipment that serves to minimise the risk of workers falling in areas requiring work at height. Thanks to their portable structure, which is easy to install and dismantle, these systems are used on construction and building sites. Edge protection systems ensure worker safety by being placed at platform edges.
Ground Support Plate: The ground support plate serves to ensure that temporary or fixed structures sit on the ground in a balanced way. They are preferred especially on unstable or soft ground. By distributing weight evenly, they create a safe working area. They are seen on construction projects, on sites and during the installation of temporary structures.
Stair Railings: Stair railings are designed to increase safety on staircases and prevent falls. Manufactured from durable materials, railings allow workers to go up and down safely by providing hand support. Stair railings are preferred on construction projects and in areas equipped with temporary structures.
Crowd Control Barriers (Area Enclosure): Crowd control barriers are a complete portable barrier system used for temporary area enclosure and to provide safety. They are used at event venues, on construction sites and at large gatherings. They bring the area under control and protect the defined boundaries. Thanks to their lightweight structure, they are equipment that is easy to transport and quick to install.
Clamp-On and Screw-Type Posts, Stanchions, Uprights, Bollards and Bases: This equipment consists of important products used in temporary edge protection and structural support systems. Clamp-on and screw-type posts fix the systems in place. Stanchions and uprights are components that support the load-bearing of the structure. Bollards and bases ensure the system is positioned securely on the ground. This equipment provides safety measures particularly during the installation process.
Telescopic Guardrail: Telescopic guardrails are a type of safety equipment that can be used at different heights and widths thanks to their adjustable structure. Their modular design makes it easy to adapt them to a variety of areas. They are used in the construction sector. They create a safe working environment in these areas by minimising the risk of falling. They are also practical to use because they are portable.
Occupational health and safety equipment for a safe working environment throughout the occupational health and safety process is waiting for you at Dekosi.
