Deaths close Tuzla yard

The Selah Shipyard in Istanbul’s Tuzla region will be shut down until the safety issues have been properly addressed and rectified. The decision to shut down the shipyard, taken by the provincial labour department, was based on investigations carried out by Labour Ministry inspectors after a succession of fatal incidents.

Work-related deaths at shipyards in Istanbul?s Tuzla region has also forced authorities to tighten the rules for issuing shipyard licenses, with periodical checks and use of trained personnel in certain areas also among the new guidelines.

Only experienced and licensed workers will be able to work as crane operators, as most of the accidents in Tuzla’s shipyards happened near or involved a crane. Fire safety equipment, air tanks, cranes, electrical equipment and cables will be regularly checked by the Turkish Accreditation Institute.

According to the records, 93 workers have died at Tuzla’s shipyards since 1985, with most deaths caused by electrocution, falling from heights and explosions. This year alone, eight workers have already died in various accidents at Tuzla’s shipyards.

A group of Port and Shipyard Workers Union, or Limter-?ž, members staged a protest rally in front of the shipyards recently calling on workers to join a general strike beginning 16 June.