Occupational health and safety in tobacco farming employees in the agricultural sector; sample of Malatya

Agriculture is an important sector that meets many needs of people in order to sustain their lives in a healthy and qualified manner. Tobacco is among the most important agricultural products of our country that have a brand value in international markets. Oriental tobacco grown in Turkey, thanks to the high demand on the world market for many years "Turkish tobacco" is referred to by name. Tobacco is produced with different methods from seedling to harvesting and processing. Productivity is very high in agricultural areas where mechanization is intense. In our country, tobacco farming is produced by manual labor. Many musculoskeletal diseases are observed due to bending and lifting during tobacco seeds sowing, harvesting, balancing and transporting tobacco and carrying heavy loads. Health problems such as waist, back, head and neck pain occur. The tools used during some processes in tobacco are dangerous and cuts can turn into an open wound and cause diseases. Increased mechanization eliminates some of the dangers listed above but causes new hazards. Occupational accidents such as collisions with machines, gripping hands, fingers or arms can occur. Toxic chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides used in tobacco production are used. These chemicals are taken into the body through respiration, skin absorption and digestion, causing health problems. Employees in tobacco farming are exposed to physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial risks. Within the scope of this thesis, the risks that the employees of our country's agriculture sector tobacco farming are exposed in terms of occupational health and safety have been determined. Protection measures that can be taken to eliminate risks or reduce them to an acceptable level have been revealed and the most effective of these protection measures have been determined. With the checklist method, which is one of the risk assessment methods, the risks found in tobacco farming were determined and checklists were prepared.