Occupational health and safety in forest fires

44113

In recent years, with the effect of global warming, the number of forest fires and burnt areas has increased significantly. All nations use manpower and every kind of technology available to fight forest fires. In Turkey, due to increasing technological advancements we have increased the utilization of aircrafts, heavy equipment, fire trucks and other vehicles besides simply manpower and hand tools. Because of the increasing use of equipment there have been considerable increases in number of risks and hazards that could be encountered in terms of occupational health and safety. To combat forest fires the General Directorate of Forestry (GDF) uses mainly manpower. Until now, even if some actions and applications related to occupational health and safety took place, still sufficient thought were not given to this subject because the only objective is to extinguish the fire. Due to the preparation of the 6331st law in occupational health and safety, great responsibility has been given to the employer and employee. With this law coming into force, job descriptions, identifications of hazards and risks and the establishment of safeguards have to be determined. Combating forest fires should not be limitted by only fire extinguishing operations, but it should include precautions prior to fire, necessary actions during fire, and post-fire activities. Then, fire risk analysis should be performed according to all these steps. In this work hazards, risks and precautions that have to be carried out during forest fires in terms of occupational health and safety issues were determined and some applicable suggestions were provided to GDF in this subject. When determining the hazard and risks qualitative methods have been implemented. Considering the identified hazards and risks, employers, employees, the government, unions, non-governmental organizations and the public have to fulfill their duties in order to perform this difficult and dangerous work safer.

168

Occupational health and safety in forest fires , Occupational health , Occupational safety , forest fire

Turkish Journal of Forestry

175

Turkish Journal of Forestry