Individual and workplace factors related to fatal occupational accidents among shipyard workers in Turkey

Risks for occupational accidents are significantly associated by individual and workplace factors. This study has been designed in order to identify individual and workplace factors that increase the risk of an accident, and to provide evidence for the achievement of precautionary actions in workplace environment. Registered fatal occupational injuries between the years 2004 and 2014 were investigated. The case reports of shipyard occupational accidents of Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Turkey have been analyzed. Then, a workplace survey was conducted among workers and foremen at Turkish shipyards located in Istanbul region. Classification of fatal occupational accidents revealed five major reasons for the shipyard workers; falling from higher elevation to a lower level, exposed to electric shock, fire and/or explosion, being struck by or struck against objects and caught in between, and drowning. The ratio of the places of fatal occupational accidents at Turkish shipyards can be classified as occurring inside the ship (43.7%) and the shipyard (56.3%). The questionnaire contains four groups: personal data, workplace environment, personal factors and commuting factors. The total number of questions is 56. The results reveal that substandard low education level of shipyard workers, housekeeping at workshops, lunch effect, bad weather conditions, improper use of PPE, being tired and sleepy, overcapacity ship production, hectic work, overtime, being a subcontractor worker and strenuous work are main risk factors for workplace accidents.