A devastating fire that broke out at a cosmetics factory in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli, claiming the lives of six people, has been examined in detail by occupational health and safety experts. Occupational Safety Specialists Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan, Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl, and Asst. Prof. Hacer Kayhan stated that the main causes of the incident were the location of the facility containing flammable substances, deficiencies in the licensing process, and lack of inspection, warning that the tragedy “was seen coming.”
Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan said that the lack of emergency exits directly affected the number of casualties:
“If a fire starts near the only available exit and grows, those who come from outside cannot intervene, and whoever remains inside unfortunately loses their lives,” he said.
Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl said: “With simple precautions taken in advance, the damage can be reduced to zero. Employers must actively involve the fire department and occupational safety experts in the licensing and inspection processes. Establishing a culture of explosion prevention at the very beginning is much more effective and life-saving than measures taken afterward.”
Asst. Prof. Hacer Kayhan said: “A fire or flame is not started by a person; it is started by negligence.”
A devastating fire that broke out in a cosmetics factory in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli, claiming six lives, has been closely examined by occupational health and safety experts.
Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan: “The factory does not meet basic safety standards”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Health and Safety Chair Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan suggested that the facility, which employs around 50 people, might have been licensed as a “warehouse,” a situation that places responsibility on both the licensing authorities and the employer.
Dr. Uçan stated that the factory clearly did not comply with fundamental safety standards:
“This is definitely a factory. You don’t have 50 people working in a warehouse... And if it’s a factory, a place where 50 people work cannot have just one entrance and exit. A proper factory must have at least two or three emergency exits. That’s clearly not the case here,” he said.
Lack of emergency exits directly increased the death toll
Dr. Uçan explained that the absence of emergency exits directly affected the number of casualties: “If a fire starts near the only exit, once the flames spread, rescuers from outside can’t intervene effectively, and anyone trapped inside ends up losing their life,” he said.
He also pointed out the risk posed by the lack of regulations requiring occupational safety specialists in businesses licensed as warehouses: “If it’s officially a warehouse, there’s no legal obligation to employ an occupational safety expert. That means they can operate however they want, without proper oversight,” he added.
Asst. Prof. Nuri Bingöl, Vice Dean of Üsküdar University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Occupational Safety Specialist, emphasized that the incident did not start as a simple fire but as a series of explosions and explained the technical risks involved. He noted that even fire extinguishers were ineffective during the blaze. Dr. Bingöl commented on the hazardous nature of the materials used, saying, “It is believed that an explosion occurred, in fact several consecutive explosions. This indicates an explosive atmosphere, what we call an ATEX-type explosion. In such explosions, fire extinguishers are often of little use.”
Alcohol used in the cosmetics industry poses serious risks
Addressing the storage conditions of flammable liquids, Dr. Bingöl drew attention to the dangers of alcohol used in the cosmetics industry. “We are talking about a perfumery warehouse, which most likely uses alcohol. These flammable liquids have low flash points. If I am not mistaken, the flash point of alcohol is 12.6 degrees Celsius. This means that at any temperature above 12.6 degrees, the material starts to produce vapor. Since combustion occurs in the gas phase, this is the condition of alcohol in such an environment,” he explained.
Facilities using chemicals and flammable materials should not be located outside industrial zones
Dr. Bingöl criticized the placement of a facility using chemical and flammable materials in a residential area rather than in an Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ). “The location of the facility is wrong from the start. We normally expect such places to be within organized industrial zones. The fact that this building is located among residential homes is problematic. There is also a metal workshop below, where hot work is probably performed. Sparks from metal cutting can act as an ignition source. There are mistakes on every level,” he said.
Fire crews in OIZs are more experienced and knowledgeable
He explained that since organized industrial zones are specialized areas, the fire brigades there are more experienced and better prepared. “In industrial zones, the fire department is involved from the licensing stage onward. They already know what is produced, what is stored, and which chemicals are used at each facility. Therefore, when a fire breaks out, there is already a prearranged intervention plan. In small factories located in residential areas, however, this information is not available, which causes delays or leads to incorrect intervention methods,” he said.
The core issue in fire safety is the risk of explosive atmospheres
Dr. Bingöl stated that the main issue in fire safety is the risk of explosive atmospheres.
“Explosion protection follows a three-step system. First, prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere. Second, if one forms, prevent ignition. Third, if an explosion occurs, mitigate its effects. We usually focus on the third stage; measures such as sprinkler systems, drills, and foam interventions all fall into this category. However, the real starting point should be the first stage, which is preventing the formation of explosive environments,” he said.
He reminded that under occupational safety regulations, workplaces with explosion risks are required to prepare documentation under the Regulation on the Protection of Employees from Explosive Atmosphere Hazards. “This documentation must be included in the risk assessment. Storage conditions must be controlled; flammable liquids should not be left exposed; chemicals with low flash points should be stored in safe environments. Such measures prevent the accumulation of explosive vapors in enclosed spaces,” he noted.
Simple precautions save lives
Dr. Bingöl stressed that it is possible to reduce casualties in industrial accidents.
“With simple precautions taken in advance, damage can be reduced to zero. Employers must actively involve fire departments and occupational safety experts in the licensing and inspection processes. Establishing a culture of explosion prevention at the beginning is much more effective and life-saving than taking measures afterward,” he said.
He also pointed out the serious risk posed by establishing facilities that produce flammable and explosive chemicals such as perfumes in residential areas. “If the municipality issued a license for perfume production here, then the fire department should have been aware of it because the fire department is supposed to verify during the licensing phase whether the facility complies with safety regulations. It appears that this building is located in a neighborhood and that the fire department likely had no detailed information about its production process. If such a facility were located in an organized industrial zone, the fire department would monitor the process from the beginning and identify potential risks in advance,” he said.
Multidisciplinary oversight is essential during licensing
Dr. Bingöl emphasized that the licensing process should not be limited to municipalities alone but should actively include fire departments, environmental experts, and occupational safety specialists. “If an operation involves flammable chemicals such as perfume production, the facility’s suitability must be evaluated from multiple perspectives, including storage conditions, ventilation systems, and the explosion resistance of electrical equipment. Organized industrial zones are important not only for production efficiency but also for promoting a culture of safety,” he said.
Asst. Prof. Hacer Kayhan: “A fire or a flame is not started by a person; it is started by negligence.”
Asst. Prof. Hacer Kayhan from Üsküdar University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, made an important observation about the physical structure of the building and emphasized the shared institutional responsibility in the licensing process.
Dr. Kayhan stated that facilities working with flammable, volatile, and explosive chemicals such as those used in perfume production should not be located in residential areas and pointed out that the incident reflects a chain of negligence.
Negligence starts the fire
Evaluating the incident, Dr. Kayhan said, “A fire or a flame is not started by a person; it is started by negligence. Therefore, the first question we must ask is, ‘Where did the negligence occur?’”
Drawing attention to the nature of perfume production, she continued, “If perfume is being produced, then there are alcohol, solvents, and volatile organics involved. This means it is a facility working with flammable, explosive, and combustible chemicals. This is not the right place for such a facility.”
Multiple institutions are involved in the licensing chain
Highlighting the multiple layers of responsibility in the licensing process, Dr. Kayhan explained: “The approval of whether a facility is suitable for such operations is given by more than one institution. The municipality issues the license if the site is within its jurisdiction; the fire department prepares a compliance report; the Ministry of Industry is involved due to the use of hazardous chemicals; and the Ministry of Labor inspects it from the perspective of occupational safety. We need to start from the top: Who gave the approval, and under what conditions? The additional structure visible there appears to be an unauthorized floor. The areas used for storage may not be officially licensed. It is said that the lower section has a license, but what type of license is it, a metal workshop or a warehouse? If production has started under a warehouse license, that is a crime.”
Legal and administrative responsibilities must be clarified
Dr. Kayhan emphasized that such incidents are preventable and made the following call: “As professionals, we know that accidents like these can be prevented. Every precaution taken can save a life. Responsibilities must be clearly defined in licensing, inspection, and compliance processes, and when necessary, administrative and legal actions must be taken.”