İSTANBUL - According to the report of the Health and Safety Labor Watch, at least 165 workers lost their lives in October 2021. While 16 of the deceased were women, 149 were men. 1.853 workers died in the first ten months of 2021.

 

The Health and Safety Labor Watch has released its monthly report on occupational homicides in October 2021.

 

The report has shown that at least 165 workers lost their lives in occupational homicides in October. In the first 10 months of this year, at least 1,853 workers died in occupational homicides, according to the report.

 

The report of the Labor Watch has noted that 145 of the 165 deceased workers were wage earners (workers and civil servants) and 20 were self-employed (farmers and shopkeepers). While 16 of the deceased were women, 149 were men. The occupational homicides of women took place in the sectors of education, metal, healthcare and general affairs.

 

According to the report, five migrants/refugees also lost their lives in occupational homicides. Three of the deceased workers were from Syria while one from Afghanistan and one worker was from Georgia.

 

The report has shown that 17 workers and five farmers lost their lives in the agricultural sector and one quarter of deaths occurred in the industrial business lines. The COVID-19 deaths among workers mostly happened in the sectors of healthcare and education/bureau.

 

In October 2021, nine of the deceased workers (or 5.45 percent) were unionized. The union members were working in the sectors of food, chemistry, education, bureau, metal, healthcare and security.

 

The most frequent causes of death were COVID-19, being crushed/trapped under debris, traffic/service vehicle accidents, falling from a high place, being poisoned/suffocated, heart attack, violence, explosion/burning, suicide, electric shock and cut/perforation.

 

While 15 workers died of COVID-19 in the healthcare sector, 14 died in the bureau/education sector and three in security.

 

Half of the occupational homicides at construction sites happened as a result of falling from a high place.

 

Two children also lost their lives in occupational homicides. Both children were working in the agriculture sector.