Experts, drawing attention to the importance of ensuring the safety of rescue workers and emergency response teams when entering a collapsed structure during rescue operations, state that measures to be taken against risk factors are of critical importance for the safe and effective execution of rescue operations.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, stating that a series of measures should be taken for effective intervention in disaster situations, said, “Rescue teams and working groups should ensure effective coordination through general coordination and application drills organized annually, or even every 6 months, across districts, provinces, and the country.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, Faculty Member of the Occupational Health and Safety Department at Üsküdar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, evaluated the February 6 earthquakes, the disaster of the century, from an occupational health and safety perspective.
The second largest earthquake of the last century
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay reminded that the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, went down in history as the second largest earthquake of the last century, while the 7.6 magnitude earthquake experienced in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaraş on the same day was recorded as the third largest earthquake.
According to the statement made by AFAD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay stated that a total of 264,389 personnel, 12,600 vehicles, and construction equipment were involved in the work carried out in the earthquake region, adding, “While the intervention, first aid, and reconstruction stages are organized within the crisis management phases determined by the Disaster and Emergency Response Regulation, the first phase of disaster management, which includes risk management, risk assessment, damage reduction, and preparedness stages, is regulated within the framework of the relevant regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331. The joint application of these two legal regulations is important for effective disaster management.”
What should be done to minimize the risks rescue personnel may encounter in the field?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay also noted that the appropriate type and amount of structural hazard mitigation should be determined to minimize the risks rescue personnel may encounter in the field, explaining:
“In a collapsed structure, an incident command system must first be established. The incident commander assumes responsibility for all response personnel at the scene. Additionally, a safety officer should be mobilized.
A series of measures should be taken to ensure that response teams work effectively. In this context, the general health and safety status of the teams should be regularly monitored, and appropriate safety practices should be adopted to prevent injuries. Furthermore, injuries and illnesses of all response team members should be investigated and documented. Daily health and safety plans, including topics such as preparing and maintaining entry permits, ensuring the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, sanitation, hygiene, decontamination, work-rest cycles, and emergency medical assistance, should be developed and implemented.”
Risk assessment should be carried out for identified hazards
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay also emphasized that emerging hazards should be evaluated through off-shift briefings, risk assessments should be conducted for identified hazards, and team members should be trained in hazard awareness and the use of personal protective equipment, adding, “In addition, the instability of structures should be regularly assessed.”
What are the hazards to be aware of when entering a collapsed structure during a rescue operation?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay noted that when preparing to enter a collapsed structure, a series of potential hazards must also be considered to ensure the safety of rescue workers and emergency response teams, stating:
“These hazards include flooding in basements due to water network breaks, exposure to microbes from sewage network breaks, exposed live electrical wires, exposure to airborne smoke and dusts such as asbestos and silica, exposure to bloodborne pathogens, hazardous materials like ammonia, battery acid, and leaking fuel, natural gas leaks creating a flammable and toxic environment, structural instabilities, insufficient oxygen, confined spaces, holes, slip, trip, and fall hazards such as protruding rebar, impact from a falling object, fire, proximity to heavy machinery like cranes, sharp objects like glass and rubble, secondary collapse due to aftershocks, vibrations, and explosions, unfamiliar surroundings, adverse weather conditions, and noise from equipment (generators/heavy machinery). Measures to be taken against these risk factors are of critical importance for the safe and effective execution of rescue operations.”
What should be done for the coordination of rescue teams?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay stated that a series of measures should be taken for effective intervention in disaster situations, saying, “Rescue teams and working groups should ensure effective coordination through general coordination and application drills organized annually, or even every 6 months, across districts, provinces, and the country. To overcome the difficulties experienced in early intervention due to coordination problems, rescue teams should rest regularly in 3 shifts and prevent dust-related occupational diseases by using filtered masks. Professional training certificates of operators involved in rescue work, renewed with 1 week of training every year, should be subjected to additional training on disaster response.”
Measures should be taken for situations such as child abductions, theft, and looting
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, also addressing the issue of providing high compensation rates to personnel who died or contracted occupational diseases in fire and AFAD teams and their families, said, “Psychological support should be provided to earthquake victims, and security measures in the earthquake region should be taken from the very beginning; measures should be taken for situations such as child abductions, theft, and looting.”
Cutting columns and beams in buildings should not be allowed, and the public should be informed about this
Additionally, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay noted that the contractors and civil engineers of buildings that collapsed in the earthquake region should have their authorities revoked and not be granted permission to build again, adding, “Illegal or improper building construction should not be allowed, and strict control mechanisms should be established to ensure that government inspections are conducted honestly, ethically, and actively. Sea sand should not be used in construction, construction workers should be given pre-earthquake training and search and rescue licenses. Cutting columns and beams in buildings should not be allowed, and the public should be informed about this. Agreements should be made with generator-producing factories to be prepared for disaster situations, evacuation problems of portable toilets should be resolved and placed in appropriate locations, and field toilets should be set up to prevent epidemics. Tents and prefabricated houses should be set up in accordance with safety and hygiene measures, and clean water supply should be ensured.”