Occupational health and safety impact of the technological developments in the food manufacturing sector

Work accidents increased in recent years, has increased the interest in this matter, and the resulting sensitivity measures have been accelerating efforts in this regard. When mentioning work accidents, what comes to mind are the mining and construction sectors. Food manufacturing has more work places in industry and has the fifth most work-related accidents occurred in 2014. Again in 2014 a total of 30 workers died due to the occupational accidents. The average death ratio of accidents over the last five years is 28.6 people. In spite of changing and developing technology, accidents cannot be prevented. Occupational accidents that occurred in the food production industry were examined in this study are evaluated according to the development of the food industry. Due to the risk the meat and meat manufacturing sector bears it is accepted to be important and as the withholder of the highest accident ratio of accidents is meat and meat manufacturing sector, this specific sector has taken a detailed place in the study. Purpose of the study, despite the development of new technologies even decreased number of workers, failed to achieve a reduction in amount of accidents, it brings attention to more serious conditions that are caused by machines and machine replacements. Two important reasons given are, the sector was unable to cover the high costs technology bring to the companies which leads to the pervasive usage of older machines and secondly, in addition to the inner develop of technology in companies, work security and manual training of machines are not valued enough. A selected sample from a meat manufacturing factory is examined and the views on the machines and their use are presented here in the form of a risk analysis. The differences that are made by the use of old and new generation technology has been shown. The latest generation of the most basic equipment developed was found to be safe in order for companies to use. If safety is found to be inadequate for working conditions, with personal protective equipment it is stated that it is possible to maintain safety.