Tuzla shipyard shut down for a month

The ?stanbul Directorate of the Labour and Social Security Ministry has ordered the temporary closure of one of the shipyards in the Tuzla area, where 98 workers have died in work-related incidents in the past seven years.

Inspectors from the directorate yesterday announced that the Nur ?stanbul Shipyard in Tuzla would be shut down for a month, stating in their report that the shipyard did not have any occupational safety measures in place to prevent serious accidents among its workers.

Shipbuilders union Dok Gemi-?ž President Necip Nalbantošlu recalled that not a single death had occurred in Nur ?stanbul and praised the decision, saying, “What is important is taking the precautions before something happens.” He further noted that if the inspectors are not satisfied with the work safety measures the shipyard establishes, the shipyard will be shut down again, this time for three months. If the administrators of the Nur ?stanbul Shipyard manage to ensure safe working conditions before the month is over, they have the right to apply to the ministry earlier and request a second inspection.