Industry Experience and Career Opportunities Presented to OHS Students

An event titled “Effective Occupational Health and Safety Training for Employees from an Occupational Safety Specialist's Perspective” was held by Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO). The training discussed the role of education in occupational health and safety on emotion, thought, and behavior change, the importance of evaluating academic knowledge and field experience together, and young talent internship and career opportunities in corporate companies.

The training, held at the Emirnebi 2 Conference Hall of Üsküdar University Çarşı Campus, was attended by SHMYO Assistant Director Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş, SHMYO Occupational Health and Safety Program Head Asst. Prof. Gamze Kağan, Hitachi Energy Occupational Health and Safety Environmental Specialist Adem Bulcum, Arzum Dilan Toraman from the Hitachi Energy Human Resources team, and students.

Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş: “Occupational safety is a sector that develops with experience”

Speaking at the opening of the training, SHMYO Assistant Director Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş drew attention to the importance of field experience in occupational health and safety. Demirtaş stated that dangers and risks are conveyed to students in university education, and emphasized that it is also important for theoretical knowledge to be seen and adopted practically in the field.

Demirtaş; “The occupational safety sector is one that develops with experience. No matter what field you work in, dangers and risks are repeatedly explained to you in university. However, it is also very important to see these practically in the field and to adopt this practice. In this regard, I believe that the topics conveyed to you by individuals from the field are very valuable.” he said.

Asst. Prof. Gamze Kağan: “The path to safe behavior passes through education”

Asst. Prof. Gamze Kağan, Head of Occupational Health and Safety Program, touched upon the role of training provided by occupational safety specialists to employees in developing safe behavior. Kağan stated that training skills are addressed in the “OHS Training Practices” course given to second-year students in the Occupational Health and Safety program, and said that education is an important tool in developing safe behavior among employees.

Kağan drew attention to the relationship between the learning and teaching process and emotion, thought, and behavior change; “One of the most important ways to lead employees to safe behavior is education. When we talk about education, as I mentioned in class, there is a 3D change in the learning and teaching process: emotion, thought, and behavior. Trainings play an important role in our ability to change emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.” she stated.

Adem Bulcum: “The role of the instructor should be to facilitate learning”

Hitachi Energy Occupational Health and Safety Environmental Specialist Adem Bulcum shared the fundamental points of effective OHS training and the importance of legal regulations with the students. Bulcum stated that only theoretical knowledge is not sufficient in occupational safety, emphasizing that the main goal is to change the employee's behavior and reflect this change in the field.

Bulcum stated that the role of the instructor is not only to convey information, and spoke as follows, emphasizing that training content should align with real risks in the field:

“The role of the instructor should not be to explain, but to facilitate learning. But in occupational safety, this should be even more pronounced; because the work we do is one that does not tolerate errors. Aligning our training content with real risks in the field, through examples we give to employees and by drawing inspiration from real-life incidents when creating content, is one of the most important issues.”

Trainings contribute to the prevention of possible occupational accidents

Bulcum emphasized that it is not enough for employees in the field of occupational health and safety to merely know the rules, but also that correctly applying these rules in daily working life is of great importance. Bulcum stated that trainings contribute to employees recognizing potential risks in advance and preventing possible occupational accidents, and drew attention to the importance of application-based trainings supported by real examples in creating an occupational safety culture.

 A career roadmap was shared for new graduates

Arzum Dilan Toraman from the Hitachi Energy Human Resources team also met with students and provided information about the company's career opportunities. Toraman discussed young talent programs offering rotation opportunities, as well as initiatives aimed at women's employment.

Toraman, who also answered questions from students preparing to enter professional life after university, shared important tips and a career roadmap to reduce uncertainties that may be experienced during the new graduate process.

The training concluded after the Q&A session with the presentation of sapling certificates to the participants.