Do explosive factories in türkiye meet safety standards?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Dr. Rüştü Uçan conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the causes of accidents in explosive factories and the measures that need to be taken. Commenting on two recent incidents, Dr. Uçan stated that "Considering the situations in factories in Balıkesir and Sakarya, such structures are often designed as if they were ordinary two-story buildings."

Dr. Uçan emphasized the importance of regularly inspecting such factories and closely monitoring their compliance with standards and stated that "Factory employees and occupational safety specialists need to undergo special training about explosives and the risks associated with working with these materials."

 

Dr. Rüştü Uçan, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department at Üsküdar University's Faculty of Health Sciences, provided a detailed assessment of the causes of accidents in explosive factories and the precautions required.

Insufficient structural design!

Evaluating the accidents in explosive factories, Dr. Uçan pointed out that one of the primary problems was inadequate building design. Uçan noted that while such structures are properly constructed in the military, the buildings in both the Balıkesir and Sakarya incidents were not properly built.

Highlighting that explosive factories are not constructed in accordance with their production processes, Dr. Uçan explained that "During an explosion, only the affected section should be impacted; however, the damage to entire buildings indicates inadequate structural design. In Türkiye, such factories must be designed according to the explosives they produce. The manufacturing processes of these factories need to be examined, and the building stock and structural systems must be constructed accordingly."

Designed like ordinary buildings

Stating that "Considering the situations in the factories in Balıkesir and Sakarya, such structures are often designed as if they were ordinary two-story buildings," Dr. Uçan continued his remarks as follows:

"However, in such facilities, special measures must be taken to prevent the spread of explosive materials during a fire or explosion and to prevent fire or other hazards from spreading to other sections of the factory. In this context, constructing special compartments known as 'cells' is extremely important. In an e-book we prepared with an explosives expert colleague, we translated American standards into Turkish and explained them in detail. We also shared examples of how these standards are implemented. Unfortunately, these standards are not adequately applied in factories in Türkiye. Accidents that should result in outcomes limited to one or two individuals turn into much larger-scale problems. Therefore, relevant regulations must be implemented as soon as possible."

Noting that the use of fragile materials like drywall for walls can spread the impact of explosions, Dr. Uçan emphasized that "Risk analyses of all explosive factories must be conducted, and unsuitable buildings must be reconstructed. The durability of structures should be increased using reinforced concrete walls and special protective materials."

Structural measures are essential!

Stating that it is always possible to prevent accidents, Dr. Uçan added that "However, even the slightest negligence or improper action can lead to explosions. To prevent the spread of impacts after such explosions and minimize their effects, structural measures are essential."

Increased scientific research is needed in the field

Dr. Uçan also recommended limiting the quantity of explosives to daily or half-daily needs and avoiding stockpiling excessive materials. He explained that "For instance, a capsule should contain only a small amount, like one gram, of explosive material. Only a half-day or one-day supply should be kept on hand. Once this quantity is depleted, new explosives should be brought in for capsule refilling. In short, reducing the amount of explosive material in capsules is of vital importance. Additionally, scientific research on these matters must be increased. After the Sakarya explosion, the building stock should have been inspected, but it was not."

Dr. Uçan noted that they had published the book Occupational Safety Practices in the Transportation and Storage of Explosive Materials through Üsküdar University Publications, making the PDF available for free, as a resource for those working in the field.

Training of employees is necessary

Pointing out that factory workers often lack adequate training and that the preference for cheap labor increases dangers, Dr. Uçan stated that "Factory workers and occupational safety specialists need to undergo special training on explosives and the risks associated with working with these materials."

Regular inspections of factories required

Dr. Uçan highlighted that health and safety protection documents for production areas and storage facilities are either insufficient or nonexistent in many companies. He emphasized that such factories must be regularly inspected and closely monitored for compliance with standards. Dr. Uçan noted that the safety standards applied in explosive factories in Europe and the U.S. are not implemented in Türkiye, which has an adverse impact on the severity of accidents.

Evaluation of regulations for civil explosives

Dr. Uçan also commented on the regulations concerning civil-use explosives as follows:

"The Regulation on Certification, Market Surveillance, and Inspection of Civil Explosives was prepared in line with the European Union's 93/15/EEC directive. According to Annex 1 of this regulation, adherence to specified safety conditions during the manufacture, storage, and supply of explosives is mandatory. General rules are as follows:

Each explosive material must be designed, manufactured, and supplied to minimize foreseeable risks to human life and health under normal, predictable conditions, as well as to prevent damage to property and the environment.

Each explosive material must have characteristics specified by the manufacturer to ensure the highest level of safety and reliability.

Each explosive material must be designed and produced using appropriate techniques to ensure that it can be rendered inert with minimal environmental impact."

Doctoral programs and thesis research are needed

Dr. Uçan emphasized the necessity of doctoral and thesis research in these areas:

"Unfortunately, Occupational Health and Safety is only included as a sub-discipline of social policy under Labor Economics in our country. Consequently, doctoral and thesis studies are often focused on safety culture. There is an urgent need to establish an occupational safety science field under natural sciences. Doctoral and graduate theses on topics such as fire and explosions should receive financial support from the Higher Education Council. Furthermore, the Occupational Health and Safety programs related to human health should not be conducted through distance education."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)