Occupational Health and Safety Practices in North Cyprus

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a field that has always existed from past to present, constantly renewing and developing itself with the needs of working life and the use of technological developments. For the successful implementation of internationally accepted OHS rules it is important to consider the working environment, workforce planning, development level and cultural structure of the country. In this article, the recent historical developments of the OHS laws, regulations and practices in North Cyprus and the effective factors are conveyed, the current situation and the plans are shared. The production of North Cyprus OHS Law and the related Regulations has considered the relevant European Union Directives, Laws and Regulations of the Republic of Turkey and country’s condition. Despite present OHS laws and regulations in the North Cyprus, the implementation is insufficient since the OHS culture has not yet been established and the system has not been formed sufficiently. It is important for the state to improve the preventive inspection/audit quality with a continuous improvement perspective, not only to ensure the implementation of laws and regulations, but also to regulate the working life of society, to protect the employer by protecting its employees, to ensure continuity of work and increase efficiency, and to make the right contribution to the economy. Appropriate use of technological development by the Labour Department and workplaces will have a significant impact on the implementation of OSH laws and regulations. Addressing the following issues will make important contributions to the OHS practices to come to the right point: Reviewing the legal regulations related to Turkish and other third country nationals, who make up a significant proportion of those working in the TRNC, registering the employees, finding a solution to the language problem.