Occupational Accidents in Turkey’s Health Sector: A Current Assessment Based on TURKSTAT and SGK Data

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the trend of occupational accidents in the health sector in Türkiye between 2013 and 2023 using data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) and the Social Security Institution (SGK), and to develop recommendations for occupational health and safety measures specific to the sector. Method: Official statistics published by TURKSTAT and SGK were utilized in this study. Annual employment figures and reported occupational accidents within the scope of human health and social work activities (NACE Rev.2 - Q sector) were examined. The rate of occupational accidents per 1,000 employees was calculated and sectoral risk levels were comparatively analyzed. Result: The data revealed that, despite periodic fluctuations, the rate of occupational accidents in the health sector showed a general upward trend. It was determined that physical and psychosocial risks faced by healthcare workers increased significantly in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. In certain years, the health sector exhibited higher accident rates than traditionally high-risk sectors such as construction and manufacturing. These findings indicate a discrepancy between the perceived safety of the health sector and the actual risks present. Discussion: Although the health sector is traditionally considered a low-risk field, the findings highlighted overlooked and underestimated hazards within the sector. Unreported incidents, excessive workload, and burnout were identified as serious threats to the occupational safety of healthcare workers. The study underscores the urgency of developing comprehensive, sustainable, and sector-specific occupational health and safety policies.

Keywords

• Health Policy
• Health Sector
• Occupational Accident
• Social Policy

Supporting Institution

“Occupational Accidents in Turkey’s Health Sector: A Current Assessment Based on TURKSTAT and SGK Data” başlıklı çalışmamızı destekleyen bir kurum yoktur.

Ethical Statement

“Occupational Accidents in Turkey’s Health Sector: A Current Assessment Based on TURKSTAT and SGK Data” başlıklı çalışmamız Etik Kurul onayı gerekmemektedir.

Türkiye’de Sağlık Sektöründe İş Kazaları: TÜİK ve SGK Verileriyle Güncel Bir Değerlendirme

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’de sağlık sektöründe meydana gelen iş kazalarının seyrini Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK) ve Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (SGK) verileri aracılığıyla 2013–2023 yılları arasında analiz etmek ve sektöre özgü iş sağlığı ve güvenliği önlemlerine ilişkin öneriler geliştirmektir. Yöntem: Araştırmada, TÜİK ve SGK tarafından yayımlanan resmi istatistikler kullanılmıştır. İnsan sağlığı ve sosyal hizmet faaliyetleri (NACE Rev.2 - Q sektörü) kapsamında yıllık çalışan sayıları ve iş kazası bildirimleri değerlendirilmiştir. 1000 çalışan başına düşen iş kazası oranı hesaplanarak sektörel risk düzeyleri karşılaştırmalı olarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Elde edilen veriler, sağlık sektöründe iş kazası oranlarının dönemsel dalgalanmalara rağmen genel olarak artış eğilimi gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Özellikle COVID-19 pandemisi sonrası dönemde, sağlık çalışanlarının maruz kaldığı fiziksel ve psikososyal risklerin belirgin şekilde yükseldiği saptanmıştır. Bazı yıllarda sağlık sektörü, inşaat ve imalat gibi sektörlerden daha yüksek kaza oranlarına sahip olmuştur. Bu bulgular, sağlık alanındaki güvenlik algısının mevcut gerçeklikle örtüşmediğini göstermektedir. Tartışma: Sağlık sektörü, geleneksel olarak düşük riskli kabul edilmesine rağmen, veriler sektördeki görünmeyen ve ihmal edilen tehlikelerin altını çizmektedir. Raporlanmayan vakalar, yoğun iş yükü ve tükenmişlik sendromu gibi unsurlar sağlık çalışanlarının mesleki güvenliğini ciddi biçimde tehdit etmektedir. Çalışma, sektöre özgü, bütüncül ve sürdürülebilir iş sağlığı ve güvenliği politikalarının oluşturulmasının aciliyetini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• İş Kazası
• Sağlık Politikası
• Sağlık Sektörü
• Sosyal Politika

References

1. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Sharps injuries among health care workers. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/sharps.html
2. Çetin, M., & Yıldız, E. (2022). Evaluation of occupational health and safety knowledge levels of health workers. Business and Human Journal, 9(1), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.18394/iid.103 6141
3. Dekker, S. (2011). Drift into failure: From hunting broken components to understanding complex systems. Ashgate.
4. Demirbilek, T. (2018). The Impact of Occupational Health and Safety Culture on Occupational Accidents. Occupational Safety Journal, 10(2), 33–48.
5. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). (2013). Methodology – Calculating incidence rates. https://osha.europa.eu
6. Flin, R., Mearns, K., O’Connor, P., & Bryden, R. (2000). Measuring safety climate: Identifying the common features. Safety Science, 34(1–3), 177–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-7535(00)00012-6
7. Gantt, R., & Rochlin, G. I. (2020). Accident Precursor Analysis and Management. Springer. Arayon, P., Schoofs Hundt, A., Karsh, B. T., Gurses, A. P., Alvarado, C. J., Smith, M., & Flatley Brennan, P. (2006). Work system design for patient safety: The SEIPS model. Quality & Safety in Health Care, 15(suppl 1), i50–i58. https://doi.org/10.1136/qshc. 2005.015842
8. Gurhan, N., Yildirim, A., & Sonmez, M. (2020). Perception of occupational accidents and diseases among  female healthcare workers. Hacettepe Health Administration Journal, 23(1), 56–72. Heinrich, H. W. (1959). Industrial Accident Prevention: A Scientific Approach (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Hollnagel, E. (2014). Safety-I and Safety-II: The past and future of safety management. Ashgate.

9. International Labour Organisation (ILO). (2019). Safety and health at the heart of the future of work: Building on 100 years of experience. ILO.
10. International Labour Organisation (ILO). (2021). Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate.  https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/safety-and-health-at-work/lang--en/index.htm
11. International Labour Organisation (ILO). (2021). Occupational safety and health in health services: A call for action. https://www.ilo.org/global/publications
12. International Labour Organisation. (2023). Safety and health at the heart of the future of work: Building on 100 years of experience. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/safety-and-health-at-work/lang--en/index.htm
13. Kahraman, A. (2021). The Position of Women Employees in Occupational Accidents: Invisible Risks. Journal of Women’s Studies, 19(3), 77–91.
14. Özkan, G., & Kılınç, B. (2020). The effect of occupational safety training on occupational accidents: A public institution example. Labour and Society, 65(1), 245–263.
15. Özkan, G., & Demirci, H. (2023). Burnout and occupational health risks in healthcare workers: A current Assessment. Turkish Journal of Health Sciences, 8(2), 115–128.
16. Parlar, S. (2008). An Overlooked Situation in Healthcare Workers: Healthy Work Environment. TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin, 7(6):547-554.
17. Reason, J. (1990). Human Error. Cambridge University Press.
18. Şahin, F., & Uysal, S. (2017). Ergonomic suitability of personal protective equipment for female workers.  Occupational Health and Safety Journal, 14(3), 112–123.
19. World Health Organisation (WHO). (2022). Occupational health: Health workers. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/occupational-health-health-workers
20. World Health Organisation. (2022). Health workforce policy and management in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic response: Interim guidance. https://www.who.int /publications/i/item/ WHO-2019-nCoV-Health_workforce-2020.1
21. World Health Organisation (WHO). (2022). Protecting Health Workers: A Global Imperative. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/protecting-health-workers
22. World Health Organisation (WHO). (2023). Health Workforce Protection: Global Monitoring Report. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/health-workforce-protection-2023
23. World Health Organisation (WHO). (2023). Workplace health promotion: Improving worker health and well-being. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/workplace-health-promotion-2023
24. World Health Organisation (WHO). (2024). Global Health Estimates and Workforce Data 2024. https://www.who.int/data/gho
25. https://guvenliinsaat.csgb.gov.tr/sektor-hakkinda/is-kazalari/?utm_source=chatgpt.com