Evaluation of Occupational Accidents in the Forestry Sector Using Standardized Accident Rates: The Case of Türkiye

Abstract

This study examines work accidents that occurred in the “Forestry and Industrial and Fuel Wood Production” sector in Türkiye between 2007 and 2024. In the research, the number of insured persons, the number of workplaces, and work accident data for the sector were analyzed using annual statistics published by the Social Security Institution (SGK). SAR was used to compare observed and expected accident levels over time while accounting for changes in insured worker numbers. Calculations were performed separately for total, male, and female insured workers. The findings show that the number of insured workers and workplaces in the forestry sector has fluctuated over the years. While the number of workplace accidents across Türkiye has shown an upward trend since 2013, this increase has been more irregular in the forestry sector. Although the sector's share of total workplace accidents is relatively low, the high physical risk involved in working conditions indicates that the recorded data may not fully reflect the actual level of risk. SAR results show that the level of workplace accidents in the forestry sector has generally remained below the Turkish average, but there has been an upward trend since 2016. The rates for male insured persons are more stable, while the rates for female insured persons are more volatile due to low employment. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the standardization approach makes a significant contribution to assessing occupational accident risk in the forestry sector and enables a more comparable assessment of temporal changes in sectoral risk.