DETERMINANTS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE FOCUS OF WELDERS

Year 2024, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 68 - 79, 31.01.2024

Merve Demirci Atik , Alp Ergör , Aylin Güngör Çifci , Ahmet Naci Emecen , Abdullah Taylan , Naciye Sinem Gezer , Eyüp Sabri Uçan

https://doi.org/10.35232/estudamhsd.1384309

Abstract

The welding industry is known for having significant occupational health risks. For this reason, the occupational hazards of welders have been previously examined by many researchers in the literature. However, the traditional hazards-outcomes focused analyses do not show the big picture in which occupational health and safety (OHS) is neglected due to global competitive conditions. Therefore, it may be important to define the determinants of OHS that deepen inequalities, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between OHS indicators and OHS determinants among welders in a developing country. In this descriptive study, the data were collected from 88 welders by telephone interview. Health outcomes were also confirmed from clinical records. In addition to the indicators of OHS, independent variables such as education level, sector, business size, union membership, security, wage, weekly working hours, etc were investigated in the study. According to the results, the work accident rate was higher in welders who started their careers as a child. Leading OHS indicators were found to be significantly worse in the working environments of those with low education, low wages, workers in the private sector and who are non-unionized. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between being unionised and high education level, high socioeconomic development (SED) level, business size, and working in the public sector. There was a negative correlation between union membership and weekly working hours. Since the concept of OHS is related to many factors, working life should be considered from a holistic perspective.

Keywords

Occupational health, OHS determinants, social determinants of health, labor union, welders

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the local ethics committee of Dokuz Eylül University (No: 2022/21-10).

Supporting Institution

No financial support has been received for this article.

KAYNAKÇILARIN ODAĞINDA İŞ SAĞLIĞI VE GÜVENLİĞİNİN BELİRLEYİCİLERİ

Abstract

Kaynak sektörünün önemli iş sağlığı riskleri taşıdığı bilinmektedir. Bu nedenle kaynakçıların mesleki tehlikeleri, literatürde birçok araştırmacı tarafından daha önce incelenmiştir. Ancak geleneksel tehlike-sonuç odaklı yaklaşım küresel rekabet koşulları gereği iş sağlığı ve güvenliğinin (İSG) ihmal edildiği büyük resmi göstermemektedir. Bu nedenle özellikle gelişmekte olan ülkelerde eşitsizlikleri derinleştiren İSG belirleyicilerinin tanımlanması önemli olabilir. Bu çalışma, gelişmekte olan bir ülkedeki kaynakçılar arasında İSG göstergeleri ile İSG belirleyicileri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesini amaçlamıştır. Tanımlayıcı nitelikteki bu çalışmada, veriler 88 kaynakçıdan telefon görüşmesiyle toplandı. Sağlık sonuçları klinik kayıtlardan doğrulandı. Çalışmada İSG'nin öncül ve ardıl göstergelerinin yanında, bağımsız değişken olarak; eğitim düzeyi, sektör, işletme büyüklüğü, sendika üyeliği, güvence, ücret, haftalık çalışma saatleri vb. sorgulandı. Sonuçlara göre çocuk yaşta mesleğe başlayan kaynakçılarda iş kazası oranı daha yüksekti. Öncül İSG göstergelerinin düşük eğitim düzeyine sahip olan kaynakçılarda, aylık maaşı düşük olanlarda, özel sektörde çalışanlarda ve sendikasız olanlarda anlamlı derecede kötü olduğu görüldü. Ayrıca sendikalı olma durumu ile; yüksek eğitim düzeyi, doğum yerinin yüksek sosyo-ekonomik gelişmişliği (SEG), işletme büyüklüğü ve kamuda çalışma arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı bir korelasyon bulundu. Sendika üyeliği ile haftalık çalışma saatleri arasında negatif bir korelasyon vardı. İSG kavramı birçok faktörle ilişkili olduğundan çalışma yaşamının bütünsel bir bakış açısıyla ele alınması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

İş sağlığı, İSG belirleyicileri, sağlığın sosyal belirleyicileri, sendika, kaynakçı

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