Occupational injuries and occupational safety and health regulations in three industries in North Cyprus, opportunities for improvement identified

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to identify the occupational injuries and occupational safety and health (OSH) standards in three selected industries (construction, wood working and aluminum) in North Cyprus. The industrial sectors in need of attention were determined following an analysis of the data collected from the labor and social insurance office on the number of industrial accidents reported each year. In the past ten years, the highest number of accidents were reported from the construction industry followed by the production industry in general. We used surveys designed to identify the extent to which the construction, woodworking and aluminum industries followed the rules and regulations stated in the OSH law requirements. Check lists were also used to identify possible OSH risks at construction sites. The response rate to the employee surveys was 75% and the Minitab program was used for data analysis. 12.2% of construction workers responding to the survey reported having a serious accident on the job, 22.2% reported starting their job without any OSH training, 23.3% had no OSH training in the work place, 44% complained that their work place did not have first aid, 85% reported that safety belts were not used when working on scaffolds. 18.18% of aluminum workers responding to the survey reported having a serious accident on the job, 81.82% reported starting their job without any OSH training, 100% had no OSH training in the work place, 54.55% complained that they do not have any protective equipments to prevent falls, 72.73% reported that employers ensure that employees used personal protective equipment. 18.75% survey respondents in the woodworking industry reported having a serious accident on the job, 59.38% reported starting their job without any OSH training, 71.88% had no OSH training in the work place, 89.06% complained that their employer did not provide any written instruction about the equipments, 90.63% reported that their work place did not have any signage warning against obstacles or a risk of falls. Some of the other work environment concerns raised by respondents included: repetitive activities that may lead to repetitive strain injuries and exposure to excessive heat, noise and dust. This study shows that despite the presence of policies (Rules and Regulations) related to OSH, these policies were not adequately enforced, resulting in serious occupational illness. The implementation of systems to enforce these policies will be critical in preventing future occupational injuries and illnesses. Keywords: Occupational injuries, occupational accidents, OSH training, OSH regulations.