The III. National Occupational Health and Safety Student Congress, organized with the contributions of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Beykoz Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, and MESKA Foundation, was held online. This year, the congress was hosted by Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi.
The congress, which began with the opening speech of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Uslu, continued with the opening speeches of Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Eleveli, Ministry of Labor and Social Security Deputy Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Sedat Yenidünya, MESKA Foundation President Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan, and Üsküdar Üniversitesi Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka.
Prof. Dr. Hasan Uslu: “We attach the same importance to our employees”
The congress began with the opening speeches of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Uslu. Uslu stated; “As is known, with the science of occupational health and safety, the most important human right, the ‘right to life’, is guaranteed for employees. This field is a great necessity for all employees and employers who labor with sweat. As a university; with the view that ‘Every employee is first and foremost a human being,’ we attach the same importance to the protection of all our employees and also aim to be ‘Accessible in Occupational Health and Safety,’ which is the main theme of our congress, and we continue our efforts without interruption for this goal. We wholeheartedly believe that our individuals, who are today's students and will be the occupational health and safety professionals of the future, will implement occupational health and safety activities in the best possible way.”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka: “Distance education in OHS is absolutely not appropriate”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka began his speech by expressing his pleasure that Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi had taken over the organization flag of the congress, which they had hosted last year; “Occupational health and safety is very important. In Turkey, the Occupational Health and Safety undergraduate program is available in only 2 foundation universities. We are honored that Üsküdar Üniversitesi is one of these universities. At Üsküdar Üniversitesi, education is not limited to theory; we support students by providing training that enables them to produce solutions for problems they will encounter in the field, with courses, practical training areas, and computer programs created by considering the Occupational Health and Safety needs not only of Turkey but of all countries. Thus, Occupational Health and Safety, which is directly related to human life, is a practice-oriented education that must be taken face-to-face. Distance education for OHS Associate Degree and Bachelor's Degree programs is absolutely not appropriate.” he stated.
Sedat Yenidünya emphasized the importance of Occupational Health and Safety education
In his speech at the congress, Ministry of Labor and Social Security Deputy Director General of Occupational Health and Safety Sedat Yenidünya emphasized the importance of Occupational Health and Safety education through the workshop organized for the improvement of occupational health and safety program curricula in universities.
Dr. Rüştü Uçan: “The field is very open to development”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department and MESKA Foundation President Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan spoke about MESKA Foundation's efforts regarding the training of qualified academic staff in the field of Occupational Health and Safety, particularly regarding the definition of occupational health and safety, which is currently defined only under social policy, as an associate professorship field under natural sciences. Uçan said; “Occupational Health and Safety is a multidisciplinary field. We are working on many scientific research projects. The field is very open to development.”
Mustafa Sıtkı Turgut: “Club activities are not limited to field trips only”
Speaking on behalf of the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Occupational Health and Safety department student club ‘SBL OHS’, 3rd-year student Mustafa Sıtkı Turgut said; “Club activities are not limited to field trips only. By brainstorming with our colleagues using the ‘snapshots’ we prepare, we equip future occupational safety specialists with the ability to perceive risks in a multifaceted way.”
Necmi Türer emphasized the importance of hard work by sharing his life story
Necmi Türer, marketing manager for HIMA Middle East FZE, who participated in the congress as an invited speaker, gave a presentation to young university graduates on how to open up career paths. Türer stated that his career journey, which began in an automotive repair shop, led him to work as the marketing manager for 82 countries at an international process safety firm (HIMA Middle East FZE). By sharing his own life story, he emphasized the importance of hard work.
At the congress, specifically organized to encourage students to engage in scientific work, papers were presented on Emergency Management, Anthropometry, Ergonomics, Accessibility, Hazardous Materials and Waste Management, Fire and Explosion, OHS in Construction Works, and other OHS topics. The congress concluded after the presentations.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan, Research Assistant Tuğçe Oral, and Continuing Education Center Assistant Manager Bengisu ALTINTEN from Üsküdar Üniversitesi were part of the organizing committee.