Investigation of general occupational health and safety situation of five marble factories using elmeri method

Within the scope of the thesis study, the general occupational health and safety conditions of five marble factories within the borders of Ankara province have been assessed by benefitting from Elmeri observation method. Elmeri observation method is a proactive method that is used for the internal auditing activities of establishments. Results of the observation studies have been statistically evaluated and the related details and outcomes were provided throughout the thesis paper. The marble factories have been assessed though the aspects of their safety behaviors, orderliness and cleanness, machinery safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, ground and passage routes, first-aid and fire safety. In result of the conducted calculations, the average index values have been found as such; machinery safety being 90.34%, orderliness and cleanness being 80.25%, ergonomic suitability being 74.01%, ground and passage route conformity being 64.73%, industrial hygiene being 61.94%, first-aid and fire safety being 45.73% and safety behavior being 43.67%. Marble factories must always adopt an objective of reaching 100% index value in terms of general occupational health and safety conditions. Therefore, the matters which require utmost improvement by the audited marble factories have been detected to be; the safety behavior of employees, and first-aid and fire safety matters. Besides of it, it has been consequentially set forth through this study the importance of tracking general occupational health and safety conditions of marble factories in order to facilitate the periodical risk assessment studies necessary for such factories. Keywords: occupational health, occupational disease, occupational safety, marble