lorem ipsum dolor sit
lorem ipsum dolor sit
lorem ipsum dolor sit
lorem ipsum dolor sit
lorem ipsum dolor sit

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

İZKA OSGB

İzka OSGB is a Joint Health and Safety Unit (OSGB) authorized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, specializing in the field of occupational health and safety. In order to prevent workplace accidents and occupational diseases, we provide support to businesses with Occupational Physicians (İYH), Occupational Safety Specialists (İGU), and other Health Personnel (DSP), contributing to the creation of safer and healthier working environments.

We aim to meet the needs of all businesses in the industrial and commercial sectors by delivering occupational health and safety services in accordance with legislation, through high-quality and sustainable solutions. Centered around occupational health and safety, our wide range of services includes mobile health services, periodic medical examinations, risk assessments, vocational training programs, and more.

At İzka OSGB, we operate with a service approach aligned with international standards and provide occupational health and safety services to globally operating companies through our team of English-speaking experts.

about-finbiz

CONTACT FORM

Fill in the form to get detailed information and make an appointment, we will contact you.

İZKA OSGB

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SERVICES

Occupational Health Services
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES

1. WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT SURVEILLANCE a. Regarding changes to be made in your workplace in accordance with occupational health and safety: i. Safe design of the workplace, ii. Planning, organization, and implementation of work using appropriate materials, iii. Selection of personal protective equipment, Our occupational physician will conduct on-site observations and provide recommendations to your company to ensure these practices comply with occupational health and safety legislation and general health principles. b. To identify necessary measures in terms of ergonomics and psychosocial risks, our occupational physician will observe and report on the compatibility between the job site and the employee by taking into account employees’ physical and mental capacities and proposing ways to reduce workplace stress factors. c. The general hygiene conditions of the working area will be continuously monitored, and suggestions will be made to ensure the necessary conditions for maintaining your operations. d. Based on health surveillance results, if necessary, we will recommend environmental measurements in cooperation with the occupational safety expert, evaluate results, and provide suggestions to correct any health-compromising conditions. 2. RISK ASSESSMENT a. Participate in the risk analysis process and its implementation with the occupational safety expert regarding the evaluation of occupational health and safety risks in your workplace; provide recommendations to the employer on the necessary health precautions to be taken and monitor their execution. b. Closely monitor and inform employee groups that require special policies, and ensure they are specifically considered in the risk assessment process. 3. HEALTH SURVEILLANCE Medical Examinations "Starting with the recruitment process, each employee shall undergo a health examination suited to the position they will work in. Necessary tests will be reviewed to determine health status and suitability for the job. Preventive measures will be advised, and the occupational physician will share their assessment with your company. Where needed, follow-up and revision of periodic examinations will be performed.” Pre-Employment Medical Examination and Revisions Appropriate medical tests will be conducted before employment, based on the department and working conditions, and a report will be prepared in line with the periodic examination form to determine whether the employee is fit for the job. This report must be kept in the workplace records. Periodic Examinations and Revisions Employees with previous pre-employment reports will be checked for any changes in health status or working conditions. A periodic examination report will be issued, and the employee will be informed. Note: Based on the employee’s personal characteristics, the workplace's hazard classification, and the nature of the job, and according to the workplace risk assessment: a. In Low Hazard workplaces: at least once every 5 years, b. In Medium Hazard workplaces: at least once every 3 years, c. In High Hazard workplaces: at least once every year. These intervals may be shortened at the discretion of the occupational physician. Return-to-Work Examination When employees return to work after health-related absences, a return-to-work exam will be conducted upon request. If they are deemed unfit to return to their previous position, the physician will recommend a suitable role and submit the recommendation for employer approval. Examinations for Special Groups For employees with occupational disease diagnoses, chronic illnesses, substance abuse, or repeated workplace accidents (e.g., young workers, child laborers, pregnant or breastfeeding employees), health examinations will be carried out to ensure appropriate job placement. If occupational illness is diagnosed, other employees in the same environment will also undergo repeat health checks. 4. TRAINING AND INFORMATION a. Plan occupational health and safety training for your staff in accordance with relevant legislation, submit plans for employer approval, and implement or supervise training. b. Make recommendations regarding the organization of first aid and emergency intervention services, including related employee training. c. Provide ongoing training to your managers, employees, and, if applicable, members of the occupational health and safety board, on general health, occupational health and safety, hygiene, the harms of substance use, personal protective equipment, and collective protection methods. d. Inform employees about workplace risks, health surveillance practices, pre-employment and periodic medical examinations. e. In cooperation with the occupational safety expert, prepare an annual evaluation report summarizing the occupational health and safety efforts and health surveillance results specific to your workplace.

READ MORE
Occupational Physician Services
OCCUPATIONAL PHYSICIAN SERVICES

In addition to the health report to be issued after conducting the necessary medical tests at the recruitment stage—ensuring the suitability of your personnel for the department and working conditions they are assigned to, and evaluating their fitness for the job in terms of occupational health: An assessment will be made to determine whether there is any correlation between your personnel’s absenteeism due to health issues and potential health hazards in the workplace. If necessary, environmental measurements will be planned and submitted for employer approval, and the results will be evaluated in terms of employee health. To control infectious diseases in the workplace, efforts will be made to prevent the spread, ensure immunization, and provide necessary hygiene training. Required medical examinations and tests will also be carried out. Recommendations will be given to the employer regarding the suitability of machinery and equipment used in the workplace in terms of occupational health, including improvements to current practices and equipment. The employer will be informed about the appropriate placement and use of occupational health instructions within the workplace. Investigations will be conducted into the causes of occupational accidents and diseases occurring in the workplace, and recommendations will be made to the employer on preventive measures to avoid recurrence. In the event of incidents that do not result in death or injury but have the potential to cause harm to employees, equipment, or the workplace, analyses will be conducted to determine the causes and notifications will be made to the employer. Any necessary occupational health and safety measures will be communicated to your company in writing. To record all occupational health surveillance activities in the workplace: In cooperation with the occupational safety specialist, assessments will be carried out regarding occupational accidents and diseases, Investigations and analyses will be performed for hazardous incidents to prevent recurrence, and preventive action plans will be developed, An annual work plan including these topics will be prepared and submitted for employer approval, and the implementation of the plan will be monitored, culminating in the preparation of an annual evaluation report. An annual work plan detailing occupational health and safety activities to be conducted in the following year will be prepared together with the occupational safety specialist.

READ MORE
Fixed and Mobile Health Services
FIXED AND MOBILE HEALTH SERVICES

Conducting health examinations for employees in workplaces is a legal obligation. Health records of employees must be initiated at the time of employment and renewed and stored at legally specified intervals. Timely health screenings help detect potential problems early and ensure necessary preventive measures are taken. İZKA OSGB – İZKA LABORATORY, with its team of experts, provides a full range of health services including: Occupational physician services, pre-employment health reports, reports for heavy and dangerous jobs, carrier (portör) screening, health screenings, pulmonary function tests, blood and urine tests, chest X-rays, audiometry, and more. Our mobile health unit, operated within our organization or in collaboration with our solution partners, allows employees working at specific workplaces to undergo the legally required medical tests related to occupational diseases directly at their workplace. Just call us for Mobile Health Services. TESTS AND RENEWAL FREQUENCIES Test Frequency Chest X-ray At least once a year Stool Culture For Salmonella and Shigella, at least once a year Throat and Nose Culture For Staphylococcus aureus, at least once a year Microscopic Stool Examination For Entamoeba histolytica cysts, Giardia lamblia cysts, and helminth eggs – at least every 6 months Complete Blood Count (Hemogram) As needed Complete Urinalysis (CUA) As needed Liver Function Tests SGOT (AST), SGPT (ALT), Gamma-GT, LDH Kidney Function Tests Urea, Creatinine, Uric Acid Serological Tests Anti-HBs, HBsAg, Anti-HCV, HIV 1+2, and other hepatitis markers Toxicological Tests Lead in blood/urine, toluene, phenol, mandelic acid, hippuric acid in urine, etc.   CHEST X-RAY As stated by the General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Republic of Turkey, chest X-rays used in “Periodic Worker Health” screenings must be at least 35×35 cm in size and meet 1st or 2nd technical quality as per ILO (International Labour Organization) standards. Our chest X-rays are taken in 35×35 cm format by our radiology technician and interpreted by our radiologist. AUDIOMETRY Hearing tests (audiometry) are conducted to evaluate potential hearing loss due to working in noisy environments. Our mobile health screening unit includes a sound-insulated audiometry cabin. Tests are conducted by our audiometrists and reported by our ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat) specialist. PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST (PFT) The Pulmonary Function Test measures lung function and capacity under appropriate conditions. It is used to assess the risk of respiratory and lung diseases caused by exposure to gases, dust, fumes, and chemicals in the workplace. CARRIER (PORTÖR) SCREENING Carrier screening includes: Chest X-ray Throat culture Stool culture Stool microscopy Clinical examination Samples are collected either in our laboratory or mobile health screening unit under proper conditions and processed in İzka Laboratory, and results are reported. VACCINATION SERVICES Vaccinations are carried out in our İzka Laboratory and Mobile Health Screening Vehicle by nurses or healthcare officers, following proper cold chain protocols. Vaccines include: Tetanus vaccine Hepatitis vaccines (administered to appropriate individuals based on test results) Influenza vaccines (administered upon request to prevent workforce loss during seasonal outbreaks) REPORT FOR HEAVY AND DANGEROUS JOBS Reports for heavy and dangerous jobs are issued by our experienced occupational physicians in accordance with the “Regulation on Heavy and Dangerous Work,” published in the Official Gazette dated June 16, 2004, issue number 25494.

READ MORE
Health Reports
HEALTH REPORTS

At our Fixed Medical Examination Unit within İzka Joint Health and Safety Unit, we perform the following examinations and all legally required tests for pre-employment health reports, high-altitude work eligibility, heavy and dangerous work suitability, and return-to-work examinations. All reports are approved by a Specialist Physician: PA Chest X-ray Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) Audiometry (Hearing Test) Hemogram Electrocardiogram (ECG) HbA1c Fasting and Postprandial Blood Glucose ALT, AST, GGT Urea, Creatinine Complete Urinalysis Blood Type HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HIV 4-in-1 Carrier Test Eye Examination Tetanus Vaccine Anti-HCV HAV IgM / HAV IgG Blood Lead Level Sedimentation BUN Triglycerides MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS UNDER HEALTH SURVEILLANCE “From the moment an employee is hired, a health check must be performed based on their job role. Tests must be reviewed, health status determined, and job compatibility assessed from an occupational health perspective. The occupational physician shall provide feedback, recommend preventive measures, and revise periodic check-ups as needed.” Pre-Employment Examination & Revisions Medical tests appropriate to the position and work environment will be conducted, and a health suitability report will be prepared and stored in line with the periodic examination form. Periodic Examinations & Revisions Employees previously cleared during pre-employment will undergo periodic examinations to detect any changes in working conditions or personal health. Reports will be issued and communicated. NOTE: Based on the workplace's risk classification and the nature of the work, and as per workplace risk assessment results: Low-risk workplaces: at least once every 5 years Medium-risk workplaces: at least once every 3 years High-risk workplaces: at least once per year (These periods may be shortened by the occupational physician if deemed necessary – Regulation No. 28713, Article 9/C3) Return-to-Work Examination If an employee returns to work following a medical leave, a return-to-work exam can be conducted. If the employee is found unfit for their former role, a suitable alternative may be recommended with the employer's approval. Special Group Examinations For employees with occupational disease diagnoses, chronic conditions, substance addiction, repeated workplace injuries, or those in special categories (young workers, child laborers, pregnant or nursing women), appropriate health exams will be conducted and documented. Other employees in the same work environment may also be re-evaluated when an occupational illness is confirmed. HEALTH SCREENINGS We perform all legally required medical tests and screenings for issuing pre-employment health reports in accordance with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards through our specialist physicians. CARRIER (PORTÖR) SCREENING INCLUDES: Chest X-ray Throat culture Stool culture Stool microscopy Clinical examination Samples collected either in our Fixed Medical Examination Unit or Mobile Health Screening Vehicle are preserved under appropriate conditions and analyzed in our facility. Results are reported accordingly. CARRIER TESTS Stool parasite examination Stool culture & antibiogram Nasal culture & antibiogram Throat culture & antibiogram Chest X-ray ADDITIONAL TESTS Hepatitis screening Blood lead level Heavy metals and toxic substances in blood or urine Routine biochemical monitoring panel Blood, culture, and microscopy samples are collected in groups from your employees. The organization and test list are coordinated with your company. AVAILABLE TESTS AT İZKA OSGB FIXED MEDICAL LABORATORY INCLUDE: AFP (ELECSYS) Albumin ALP, ALT, Amylase Anti-HBC IgG / IgM Anti-HCV, Anti-HIV Anti-M, Anti-T, Anti-TPO Anti-HAV IgG / IgM Anti-HBs (including ELISA) APTT, ASO, AST Brucella Tube Agglutination BUN, CA15-3, CA19-9 CEA, CRP, Vitamin D Iron, TIBC, Direct Bilirubin Drug Test, Estradiol Ferritin, Folic Acid FSH, FT3, FT4 GGT, Glucose, HbA1c HBsAg (including ELISA) HDL Cholesterol, Hemogram HIV (ELISA), IgE Indirect Bilirubin Insulin, Insulin Resistance Calcium, Blood Type Measles IgG / IgM Chloride, Cholesterol Creatinine, LDH, LDL LH, Magnesium Peripheral Smear Coagulation Time Pneumoconiosis A-B Carrier (Portör) Potassium, Progesterone Prolactin, Prothrombin Time RF, Sedimentation Free PSA, Sodium, CUA Total Bilirubin Total Iron Binding Capacity Total Lipid, Total PSA Total Testosterone Transferrin, Triglyceride TSH, Urea, Uric Acid VDRL, Vitamin B12 RADIOLOGY & FUNCTIONAL TEST REPORTING Chest X-ray Interpretation ECG Reporting Audiometry Reporting Pulmonary Function Test Reporting HEAVY METAL & TOXICOLOGICAL PANEL Lead, Zinc, Aluminum Solvent, Manganese Hippuric Acid, Phenol TCA, Chromium, Nickel Copper, Hydroxypyrene Cadmium, Cobalt o-Cresol, Trans-Muconic Acid Mandelic Acid

READ MORE

Sağlık ve güvenlik,
en büyük yatırım!

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION & CERTIFICATES

REFERENCES

VIDEOS

BLOG

I’m a Master at This Job
October 23 2023
I’m a Master at This Job

“If you want to be a master of the job, be eager to learn, be curious. Know that every piece of knowledge enlightens you, every skill makes you special.” — Master’s saying. Personal protective equipment (PPE) are devices that protect individuals against risks when collective protection methods are not available. PPE is classified into 8 main types based on usage areas: Head protectors Face protectors Eye protectors Hearing protectors Hand and arm protectors Foot and leg protectors Body and torso protectors Respiratory system protectors Although PPE are categorized under these main headings, many job-specific features exist within each category. For example, under eye protectors, there are welding goggles as well as plastic laboratory glasses. In our field, we rely on standards to select the correct personal protective equipment. CE (Conformity of Europe) and EN (European Norm) standards explain what the equipment protects us from. In our country, the use of protectors without CE and/or EN standards is prohibited. After this general information, as occupational safety experts, one of the most important issues we observe during site visits is the insufficient use of personal protective equipment. Unfortunately, these are equipment often undervalued in our country but are actually the most affordable and easiest to procure. Because people prioritize personal comfort over safety, a large portion of work accidents occur due to carelessness, ignorance, or overconfidence. Speaking of overconfidence, I want to share an incident we experienced. During a site visit to a company, when I warned one of our masters in his 60s about personal protective equipment, his reaction was as if saying, “I have as much mastery as your age.” While explaining this to him gently and jokingly, I heard in my mind the phrase, “I’m a master at this job.” I cannot disrespect his mastery; my job is to inform you about what needs to be done for occupational safety. As the poet Melih Elhan said: "When a master is lost, one must seek apprenticeship once more, Embrace apprenticeship once more, Enroll in apprenticeship once more." After saying this, we laughed together. The humorous ending of this event spared both me and the master any offense, and in my following visits, I saw that colleagues paid more attention to PPE use. This reminded me that not knowing is not shameful, but not learning is, and it made me happy professionally. A note from the master: “If you want to be a master of the job, learn to be patient, don’t rush. Know that every patience matures you, every goal elevates you.” We took this to heart as we taught and learned. As a country, our people are never ill-intentioned; with proper guidance and information, they easily grasp the importance of rules. Recent studies in our country show a 21% decrease in work accidents in the last five years, demonstrating once again how important occupational safety rules are and how necessary it is to comply with them. Finally, I wish you safe and accident-free days in your working life, where rules are respected and carefully followed... Sezer ATUK Occupational Safety Specialist (C) İZKA JOINT HEALTH and SAFETY UNIT INC.

READ MORE
The Impact of
June 06 2023
The Impact of "DIABETES" in Work Accidents and the Importance of the "HbA1C" Test

The most common cause of workplace accidents worldwide is falling from heights. In our country, falling from heights accounts for 44.4% of fatal accidents. This is followed by traffic and machinery accidents at a rate of 17.8%. The sector where falls from heights most frequently occur is the construction sector. Construction work requires constant attention due to the intensity of working at heights. Additionally, cold winds in winter and hot weather in summer make the work more difficult and dangerous. When psychological factors such as fatigue, lack of attention, and decreased motivation are added, the risk of workplace accidents increases even more. Among the causes of workplace accidents, an important issue that should not be overlooked is sudden changes in physiological values such as blood sugar levels or blood pressure problems, as well as diseases like vertigo. The dizziness, balance disorders, lack of attention, or drowsiness caused by these have significant effects on the occurrence of severe workplace accidents. For this reason, especially workers in heavy and hazardous jobs and those working at heights, all employees should be carefully examined during pre-employment medical examinations. Diabetes and blood pressure problems, as well as hereditary risks, should be carefully questioned and necessary tests should be performed. The fasting blood glucose test (FBG) is usually performed for the diagnosis of “diabetes,” which is our topic today; however, since it shows only an instantaneous value and often the required fasting time before the test is not fully observed, it can be misleading. Therefore, instead of the “fasting blood glucose” test, applying the “HbA1C” test is much more meaningful. This test measures the percentage of sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. This is because the body cannot properly use the sugar in the blood and carry it to the tissues, resulting in sugar binding to hemoglobin. This test can be done at any time regardless of whether the person is fasting or fed, shows the average blood sugar level over the last 3 months, and thus provides very valuable information about diabetes, prediabetes, and blood sugar fluctuations during sleep. It is also very important in the treatment and follow-up of diagnosed diabetic patients for adjusting medication doses. The person taking the HbA1c test does not need to fast before the test and can maintain their normal eating and drinking routine. According to the HbA1c test result: Levels below 5.7% are considered normal. Levels between 5.7% and 6.4% indicate prediabetes, meaning a high risk of developing diabetes. A value of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes. An HbA1c level above 8% indicates poor control of diabetes and a high risk of diabetes-related complications. For diabetics, the goal is an HbA1c level of 7% or lower. The higher the HbA1c, the greater the risk of diabetes-related complications. Diabetics usually monitor their blood sugar levels with devices at home. These devices report blood sugar in mg/dL or mmol/L. However, since HbA1c is reported as a percentage, knowing the equivalents is important. The estimated average blood sugar levels according to HbA1c are as follows: HbA1c (%) Estimated Average Blood Glucose (mg/dL) Estimated Average Blood Glucose (mmol/L) 6 126 7 7 154 8.6 8 183 10.2 9 212 11.8 10 240 13.4 11 269 14.9 12 298 16.5   In conclusion: Diseases such as diabetes, hidden diabetes, and hypoglycemia, which cause changes in employees’ blood sugar levels leading to serious workplace accidents, should never be ignored. All employees, especially those working at heights and in hazardous jobs, should be investigated in this regard. Wishing you healthy and accident-free days… İzka Occupational Health and Safety Unit Industry and Trade Inc. Dr. Şekip KILIÇARSLAN Workplace Physician

READ MORE
No way anything will happen to me!
June 06 2023
No way anything will happen to me!

Businesses are divided into two groups: those that have experienced workplace accidents and those that have not. Businesses that have experienced workplace accidents may suffer significant material and moral distress. Therefore, those who do not prioritize occupational health and safety must quickly abandon the mindset of "Nothing will happen to me." In our country, the first legal regulation aimed at protecting employees against occupational accidents and diseases came into force in 2012 with Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety. For the culture of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) to develop, OHS professionals need the support of employers. With their support, when sufficient time and proper training opportunities are provided, we believe that our perspective on occupational health and safety will change and this culture will develop rapidly. Our duty as OHS professionals is to inform all our employees, especially EMPLOYERS, about this culture, provide training, and most importantly, ensure the application and supervision of the training received in the field. Employers who receive occupational health and safety services must fulfill their responsibilities in accordance with Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety from the start of service procurement. The most important of these responsibilities are: 1- They must take an active role as team members in the preparation of risk assessments and emergency action plans. 2- They must procure the legally mandatory approved ledger for recording OHS findings and recommendations and have it notarized or approved by İŞKUR. 3- Employees must undergo medical tests and vaccinations foreseen by the workplace physician before starting work; OHS training must be provided during working hours, and new employees must be given job orientation training. 4- They must definitely notify us about newly hired employees. 5- Personal protective equipment must be delivered to employees against a receipt, usage must be supervised, legal sanctions must be applied for non-compliance, and these sanctions documented. 6- Periodic inspections of work equipment, electrical installation conformity and grounding checks, and emergency drills must be conducted. To avoid financial penalties in case of deficiencies detected during occupational accident investigations or ministry inspections, responsibilities must be fulfilled on time. As in every aspect of our lives, the first and most important step in establishing an Occupational Health and Safety culture is undoubtedly education. Along with fieldwork, we also conduct training activities at the companies we serve. Despite the clear regulations about employee occupational health and safety training, unfortunately, before the training we provide as OHS professionals, we often face objections and prejudices from employers or employer representatives such as: ♦ We are very busy these days, ♦ Let's postpone the training, ♦ Let's just pretend it's been given, ♦ Let's give it after working hours, ♦ Let's do it during lunch, ♦ They won’t understand even if you explain, Employees similarly resist safety measures with the mindset "Nothing will happen to us," which can also be explained by lack of education and an inadequate safety culture. ♦ Employees trained in fire safety will be the first to intervene in a workplace fire, ♦ Employees trained in first aid will be the first to assist a colleague injured in a work accident, ♦ Even OHS-trained employees will understand the dangers of working on unprotected machinery. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES SHOW THAT 98% OF WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS CAN BE PREVENTED WITH PREVENTIVE MEASURES, A FACT ACCEPTED BY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. Employers should work towards creating a safety culture in their businesses, ensure necessary training for employees, evaluate occupational health and safety topics with employees, prepare required procedures and instructions, make participation attractive through rewards and competitions, and most importantly, ensure that "Safety" is prioritized over production and work. Remember! Workplace accidents can happen at any time in any business. I wish all employers and employees HEALTHY and SAFE working conditions. İzka Occupational Health and Safety Joint Stock Company Celadet ÖNEN Occupational Safety Specialist (B) Fire Trainer Working at Heights Trainer

READ MORE