Occupational health and safety practices in ship recycling industry

Health and safety concepts are two indispensible and important notions for both the individuals and for the society in all over the world. Upon positive provision of these two concepts, the workers can participate in production activities. When health and safety needs of a worker have been met, one of thequalifications for participation in production is fulfilled. A healthy and secure working environment increases motivation and efficiency, and positively contributes to the production.In countries with a higher level of development, fulfilling the health and safety needs of the workers is one of the fundamental social policies of the country. Health and safety measures and needs of people are extremely important for developed countries. These countries always establish and updatetheir social policies according to the level they value people. In our country, the importance given to occupational health and safety has increased by the Labor Law No. 4587. By this law, the employers have been held responsible before the law for the subjects such as determining the possible risks in the workplace for ensuring the health and safety of the workers they employ, preventing the dangers, at least controlling the ones that can not be prevented, educating and raising awareness of the workers on occupational health and safety.The aim of the research; alongside with the general framework of the occupational health and safety issues that we face in the business life, to basically discuss occupational health and safety concepts in the ship recycling activities performed both in our country and in various countries all over the world and to study implementation examples aimed at labor intensive shiprecycling industry. In this context, regarding occupational health and safety, the practices of Ship Recycling Industrialists Association which carries out its activities within the scope of current law, rule and regulation in Aliağa Ship Recycling Plant will be studied and the importance of occupational health and safety on this sector will be emphasized.Keywords: Occupational Health and Safety, Ship Recycling, Hazardous Wastes