Industrial Fire Safety in Turkey: A Retrospective Analysis of Fire-Related Occupational Accidents (2012–2022)
Abstract
Fire incidents continue to pose a significant public safety and occupational health risk worldwide. According to the International Technical Committee on Fire Prevention and Firefighting (2023), fire-related death rates range from 3 to 5 per 100,000 people in developed countries such as the United States, Germany, and Japan, while in developing countries such as India, Pakistan, and Nigeria, these rates can reach 25 to 45 per 100,000 people. In Türkiye, the fire-related death rate was approximately 7 per 100,000 people in 2022, placing the country in the middle-income group. The absence of a centralized and standardized national fire incident database in Türkiye limits the comprehensive analysis of fire-related workplace accidents. Therefore, this study examines the distribution and characteristics of fire-related workplace accidents using Social Security Institution (SSI) data covering the 2012–2022 period. Statistical analyses were conducted using Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher–Freeman–Halton tests. The findings indicate that fire-related accidents account for approximately 5.3% of all workplace accidents and 11.6% of fatal cases. According to SSI records, these accidents are predominantly concentrated in categories C1 (≈42%) and C2 (≈39%). A gender-based analysis indicates that male workers are significantly more affected by fire-related workplace accidents (p<0.001). These findings should be considered as preliminary evidence derived from existing official data. The results highlight the strategic importance of establishing a transparent, centralized, and internationally compliant national fire data monitoring system in Turkiye. Such an approach would also contribute to the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 9.
Keywords
- Industrial fires
- Fire risk assessment
- Occupational safety
- Workplace accidents
- Fire prevention strategies
Ethical Statement
Thanks
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Urban Planning and Health, Architecture for Disaster Relief, Architectural Design, Fire Safety Engineering
Journal Section
Research Article
Early Pub Date
July 24, 2026
Publication Date
-
Submission Date
April 27, 2025
Acceptance Date
May 18, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication