The Occupational Health and Safety Council says that at least 111 workers lost their lives in Januar

According to the occupational killings report published by ISIG (Occupational Health and Safety Council) in January, 111 workers died in the first month of 2022.

100 of the killed workers were wage earners (workers and civil servants) while 11 were self-employed (farmers and tradesmen).

The report said that most of the deaths occurred in construction-road, metal, trade-office-education, transportation, health, municipality-general works, accommodation, agriculture-forest, mining, chemistry, textile, energy and security sectors.

The leading causes of death are traffic accidents, Covid-19, crush, fall from height, suicide, heart attack, violence, electric shock.

The report said: “The overturning of worker services from many sectors in traffic accidents and the deaths in the transportation sector draw attention. We should underline the heavy and long working conditions of the drivers, especially the vehicles not being adequately maintained or not suitable for carrying passengers.”

The report also underlined the number of suicides, saying that they are ” increasing due to the worsening situation of workers who cannot make a living to repay their debts from banks and loan sharks, and the pressure exerted.”

According to the report, Istanbul (14 deaths), Kocaeli (12), İzmir (8) and Denizli (7) are the cities where most deaths occurred.

Occupational homicides have increased significantly in recent years. ISIG said that at least 2,170 workers lost their lives in 2021.

In 2020, 2,427 workers lost their lives; in 2019, 1,736 and in 2018, 1,923.