Türkiye’s Basic Metal Industry From A Decade-Long Perspective: Dynamics of Occupational Accidents and Diseases

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Occupational accidents and diseases represent critical challenges that compromise the safety climate within any nation. In Türkiye, as in other countries, certain sectors exhibit a prevalence of workplace incidents that significantly exceeds national averages. The basic metal industry (BMI) in Türkiye is notably affected and stands out among these high-risk sectors. According to the findings of this study, the incidence rates of occupational accidents and diseases in the BMI have consistently and substantially surpassed the national averages throughout the analyzed ten-year period (2013-2022). Accordingly, under the Communiqué on Workplace Hazard Classes, all enterprises within this sector are classified as "Dangerous" and "Very Dangerous" concerning occupational risks. The BMI encompasses a diverse range of activities, including the production of steel goods such as pipes, tubes, profiles, and related fittings, as well as the manufacturing of precious metals and non-ferrous materials like aluminum, lead, zinc, tin, and copper. It also involves the processing of nuclear fuels and the casting of iron, steel, light metals, and non-ferrous metals. As of 2022, the sector employed 198,262 individuals, underscoring its strategic significance for Türkiye’s overall industrial development. This study aims to investigate the ten-year macro-level dynamics of work-related accidents and diseases within the high-risk BMI sector. For this purpose, official occupational accident and disease statistics from 2013 to 2022, provided by the Social Security Institution (SSI), were utilized to benchmark sectoral risks against national data through the application of standardized comparative rates (e.g., SOAR, SFOAR).