Research Information System
9th International New York Academic Research Congress on Social, Humanities, Administrative, and Educational Sciences, New York, United States Of America, 7 - 09 March 2024, pp.298-299
The agricultural industry is of strategic importance for every country due to its nature. Although the importance of agriculture in the economy varies according to the development levels of countries, each country works meticulously to develop and protect its agricultural industry. The rapid increase in food needs in conjunction with the rapidly increasing population makes the agricultural industry one of the strategic industries. The agricultural industry in Turkey has an indispensable place in the economic and social structure of the country. Ensuring sustainability in the agricultural industry can be achieved by fully protecting farmers and their workplaces in terms of health and safety. This study aims to indicate the problems encountered in occupational health and safety practices in the Turkish agricultural industry in line with current data and to suggest effective solutions to existing problems. When we look at the agricultural industry from this perspective, it is seen that it is one of the most dangerous businesses in the world due to the many different dangers and risks it contains. Especially, agricultural machinery and tools, noise, vibration, ergonomic hazards, agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, toxic and allergenic agents, carcinogenic substances, diseases originating from animals and parasites, wild and poisonous animals, adverse weather conditions, working conditions, and labour relations are quite different in terms of other industries. Ultimately, the delivery and implementation of occupational health and safety services to employees pose different challenges compared to other industries. Legal regulation regarding the health and safety of employees in the agricultural industry in Turkey was first made within the scope of Labor Law No. 4857. However, with Labor Law No. 4857, it has become obligatory to apply occupational health and safety provisions in workplaces where agricultural and forestry work is carried out with 50 or more workers and where employees work based on an employment contract. As a result, the majority of employees, especially in the agricultural industry, where small businesses are more common, could not benefit from the right to occupational health and safety. Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331, enacted in 2012, provides legal protection for employees in the agricultural industry in terms of health and safety, with the provision that “It must be applied to all jobs and workplaces in the public and private sectors, regardless of the employees’ fields of activity.” However, those who produce goods and services on their behalf and their account without employing employees are excluded from the scope of Law No. 6331. Unfortunately, self-employed workers, who constitute a large proportion of the agricultural industry, are excluded from the scope of Law No. 6331. Particularly in the agricultural industry, women and children working as unpaid family workers and the widespread informality prevent the majority of workers in the sector from benefiting from the legal legislation on occupational health and safety. Another problem regarding occupational health and safety in the agricultural industry is the issue of training. It is seen that the education levels of employees in the industry are quite low and this situation significantly increases occupational health and safety non-compliances. Another problem is the lack of audits experienced due to the small structure and dispersed distribution of the enterprises in the agricultural industry. In general, to ensure effective occupational health and safety in the agricultural industry in Turkey, more effective training programs should be provided to employees and a culture regarding occupational health and safety should be created. More comprehensive legal regulations in line with the structure of the industry should be made to protect employees from precarious working conditions and to improve occupational health and safety standards. In addition, workplaces should be ensured to comply with occupational health and safety standards through regular inspections. As a result, occupational health and safety non-compliances in the Turkish agricultural industry are a serious problem and urgent measures need to be taken for a solution.