Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi's Faculty of Health Sciences, stated, "In our country, we frequently encounter numerous work accidents, fires, and earthquakes. For permanent solutions to be produced here, YÖK must urgently define Occupational Safety as a scientific field under Natural Sciences. This way, the path to associate professorship for OHS Department lecturers will be opened."
The '6th National Occupational Health and Safety Student Congress,' organized by Gümüşhane University with the support of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi, and MESKA Foundation, and with the main theme 'Occupational Health and Safety Practices in Mining,' was held on April 29-30, 2025. At the congress, students and academics from Üsküdar Üniversitesi's Occupational Health and Safety Department presented important papers.
The opening speech of the congress, which aimed to deeply examine OHS practices in the mining sector and lead the increase of awareness in this field, was delivered by Gümüşhane University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Handan Çam. Emphasizing that occupational health and safety is not merely a legal obligation but also a sign of respect for human life and labor, Çam stated, "The most important reason for our presence here is to raise awareness in this field, share knowledge, and collectively think for a safer working life. Prevention is always more valuable than payment."
Providing information about the congress, which was held in a hybrid format, Congress Board Chairman Assistant Professor Dr. Süleyman Şüküroğlu said, "Occupational health and safety is not just an obligation, but also an expression of respect for life."
Gümüşhane University Rector Prof. Dr. Oktay Yıldız also conveyed his thanks to those who contributed to the organization of the congress, stating, "Especially in high-risk sectors like mining, the development and widespread adoption of occupational safety practices are of vital importance."
Strong Participation from Üsküdar Üniversitesi in the Congress
Prominent figures from Üsküdar Üniversitesi also attended and supported the congress. Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan and Lecturer Ertuğrul Kaya participated in the congress as invited speakers.
Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan, Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi's Faculty of Health Sciences, stated that the field of occupational safety is not adequately recognized in the associate professorship criteria by the Interuniversity Council, and is merely listed as a keyword under Social Policy, adding, "In our country, we frequently encounter numerous work accidents, fires, and earthquakes. For permanent solutions to be produced here, YÖK must urgently define Occupational Safety as a scientific field under Natural Sciences. This way, the path to associate professorship for OHS Department lecturers will be opened. Otherwise, problems cannot be solved merely by focusing on culture."
Experienced faculty members working in industry should be able to teach
Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan, emphasizing that occupational safety is a multidisciplinary scientific field and that solutions should be produced in collaboration with industry, stated that requiring only professors with doctorates to be appointed to undergraduate and graduate OHS departments would lead to a severance of joint ties with the industry.
Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan added that experienced faculty members working in the industry should also be given the opportunity to teach by defining certain criteria.
Scientific Studies Presented at the Congress by Üsküdar Üniversitesi
Students and academics from Üsküdar Üniversitesi's Occupational Health and Safety Department presented important papers at the congress. The papers submitted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi's Occupational Health and Safety Department and featured in the congress are as follows: Zeynep Gül, Research Assistant Ender Sezen, Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan "Enhancing Machine Safety in the Mining Sector Through Automation and Digitalization: A Legal and Technical Perspective", Elif Tuzak, Assistant Professor Dr. Sertaç Temur, Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan "Analysis of Safety Culture Studies in the Mining Sector", Serap Duman, Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan - "The Importance of Detector Placement in Preventing Gas Explosions in Mines: Gas Tanker Explosion Example", Furkan Karataş, Lecturer Ertuğrul Kaya, Assistant Professor Dr. Nuri Bingöl, Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan "Smart Mines and Autonomous Machines: Examining Innovative Approaches that Increase Efficiency and Safety in Mining", Serap Duman, Assistant Professor Dr. Nuri Bingöl - "Radon Gas Danger in Mines", Abdulkadir Gürkan Aydın, Research Assistant Ender Sezen, Assistant Professor Dr. Rüştü Uçan - "Work Accidents and Their Causes in Mining Areas".