**1. Introduction**

A work accident is defined as an accident that a worker suffers as a result of an incident that occurred suddenly due to an external reason for the work the worker performed for his employer while he was under the authority of the employer [1]. Before determining the causes of work accidents, the conditions that are accepted as being in the category of work accidents should be investigated. According to Law on Social Insurances and General Health Insurance No. 5510, the events that are accepted as work accidents are as follows: all accidents that include the period when the insured worker is in the workplace, the employee could not do his own job when he is sent to another place by the employer due to a job handled by the employer

at the time, when female workers with small children are on maternity leave, and when the workers are collectively brought to another place by a vehicle provided by the employer [1].

Today, work accidents have become one of the most critical issues for our economy. The economic and psychological costs of these accidents have become a pressure factor in business life. Even if there is no accident, the constant risk to workers because of working conditions has become a major psychological problem [2].

The occurrence of accidents at workplaces and work-related diseases is of utmost importance in many respects such as protecting employee rights, fulfilling social responsibilities, and creating legal regulations. Although interest in workrelated diseases began in the time of ancient Greece, work accidents and workrelated diseases became an important issue during the Industrial Revolution and caused various labor movements and unionized employees to demand their rights. From the 19th century onwards, insurance companies began to offer insurance that covered work accidents and work-related diseases. In terms of Turkey, even though certain regulations had been in place since the 19th century in the Ottoman period, they were rather limited. After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, laws were issued in limited areas, and then their scope was extended, covering all workers. To date, these laws have been updated many times, and improvements have been made [3].

Although technological developments have increased occupational health and safety, the alienation towards the job brought about by specialization, and a decreased sense of investment in the job has caused loss of attention during work which has led to work accidents. In this respect, creating a safe environment is of great importance in the working environment, but creating this environment is a rather difficult process because, apart from the current organization and working group, a safe climate appeals to individual perceptions [4]. In this context, it is also important to reduce stress in the working environment. There are studies indicating that work accidents increase as the level of stress increases in the work environment. In situations where stress, fear, and disgust are present, individuals experience more cognitive dysfunction and experience more accidents [5]. This damages the safety climate in the workplace. When a work accident occurs, workers cannot work efficiently because they are afraid for their own safety. For this reason, it is particularly important to provide an Occupational Health and Safety System in every workplace as well as to conduct studies on this issue [6].

Worldwide, 2.78 million workers die every year due to work accidents and workrelated diseases. About 86.3% of these deaths are caused by work related diseases, and 13.7% are caused by work accidents. In non-fatal accidents, the number of injuries is higher. While for young workers it was determined that the accident rate was much higher, work-related diseases were lower. This situation stems from the situation of cumulative exposure to factors that cause work-related diseases and their delay time [7]. When work accidents were analyzed from a historical point of view, it was seen that they have regularly increased every year until 2010. There was a sharp decline in 2012, but later on an increase was observed. From 2012 to 2016 work accidents increased by 382%, and 84.29% of the people who experienced a work accident in 2016, were men [8].

When looking at the situation regarding work accidents in Turkey in 2016, it was seen that 32,52% of accidents and 60.85% of fatal accidents occurred in businesses that employed fewer than 50 people. More than half of the accidents occurred in working hours during the day, and 28.23% occurred before noon. The three industries that experienced the most work-related accidents in 2016 in Turkey were identified as factory-made metal product manufacturing except

**133**

*Modeling the Factors That Affect Work Accidents with Binary Logistic Regression…*

machinery and equipment, building construction, and specialized construction activities. These three industries made up 19.46% of all work accidents. In addition, the three industries where work accidents leading to fatalities occurred the most were building construction, land and pipeline transportation, and construction of outdoor buildings. The share of fatal work accidents in these three industries in the

The percentage of fatal accidents by economic activity per 100,000 workers in Turkey was divided into various business categories. Accordingly, while the highest accident rate occurred in agriculture, construction and sewage, waste management, and reclamation activities followed agriculture, respectively [8]. Worldwide, the construction industry has one of the highest occurrences of accidents. The use of large and heavy machinery and equipment increases the severity of injuries and the risk of death [10]. Although improvements have been made in developed countries, the construction sector in developing and under-developed countries is still one of

According to the UCTEA (Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects) report, in 2016, 20 people died on the first day of work, and 78 people died during the first week of work. While the number of people who died in the first eight to 30 days of the job, was up to 165 people, as experience increased, the number of people who had a fatal work accident decreased. 42.61% of workers involved in work accidents have 1 month to 1 year of experience at their job [9]. This situation shows how important experience and work proficiency are in work accidents [12]. When looking at the gender distribution in work accidents in general, it was determined that women had fewer accidents than men. However, in industries where women make up a higher percentage of employees, the manufacturing of food products, buildings and landscaping activities, and food and beverage service activities are the top three industries in which women experienced the most acci-

In a globalizing world, companies must improve their safety performance in order to compete on a global scale. Work accidents leading to permanent injuries, the accidents resulting in workers being unable to work for a long time, or the accident resulting in death create huge costs for companies. Investing in equipment to prevent work accidents and educating individuals in this area are important in terms of reducing costs. The development of a safety culture throughout the

Many work accident and safety-related regulations have been made in Turkey in order to improve safety, and significant progress has been made. Labor Law No.1475 has been in force in Turkey since 1971, and it was amended in 2003 with Labor Law No. 4857. Since 2012, Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 has been in force. Along with these laws, various improvements have been made in occupational health and safety. With the regulation issued in 2012, public and agricultural workers, as well as all workplaces and all employees regardless of the number of employees and the type of work, are covered within the scope of the law. In addition, risk assessment and increasing the number and capacity of occupational health and safety laboratories became compulsory for all businesses [8]. The National Occupational Health and Safety Council Regulation was issued in 2013. The aim of the council is to improve conditions related to safety in work life and to

In spite of the arrangements made and the increase in precautions taken in Turkey in recent years, they are still far below the standards of developed countries. For this reason, many non-governmental organizations have been established, and these organizations have focused on issues such as increasing the legal rights of employees, improving working conditions, and workers being protected from harassment

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93872*

total volume of accidents was 39% [9].

dents in 2016 [13].

workplace is important in this context [14].

create a safety culture [15].

the industries with the highest frequency of accidents [11].

#### *Modeling the Factors That Affect Work Accidents with Binary Logistic Regression… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93872*

machinery and equipment, building construction, and specialized construction activities. These three industries made up 19.46% of all work accidents. In addition, the three industries where work accidents leading to fatalities occurred the most were building construction, land and pipeline transportation, and construction of outdoor buildings. The share of fatal work accidents in these three industries in the total volume of accidents was 39% [9].

The percentage of fatal accidents by economic activity per 100,000 workers in Turkey was divided into various business categories. Accordingly, while the highest accident rate occurred in agriculture, construction and sewage, waste management, and reclamation activities followed agriculture, respectively [8]. Worldwide, the construction industry has one of the highest occurrences of accidents. The use of large and heavy machinery and equipment increases the severity of injuries and the risk of death [10]. Although improvements have been made in developed countries, the construction sector in developing and under-developed countries is still one of the industries with the highest frequency of accidents [11].

According to the UCTEA (Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects) report, in 2016, 20 people died on the first day of work, and 78 people died during the first week of work. While the number of people who died in the first eight to 30 days of the job, was up to 165 people, as experience increased, the number of people who had a fatal work accident decreased. 42.61% of workers involved in work accidents have 1 month to 1 year of experience at their job [9]. This situation shows how important experience and work proficiency are in work accidents [12]. When looking at the gender distribution in work accidents in general, it was determined that women had fewer accidents than men. However, in industries where women make up a higher percentage of employees, the manufacturing of food products, buildings and landscaping activities, and food and beverage service activities are the top three industries in which women experienced the most accidents in 2016 [13].

In a globalizing world, companies must improve their safety performance in order to compete on a global scale. Work accidents leading to permanent injuries, the accidents resulting in workers being unable to work for a long time, or the accident resulting in death create huge costs for companies. Investing in equipment to prevent work accidents and educating individuals in this area are important in terms of reducing costs. The development of a safety culture throughout the workplace is important in this context [14].

Many work accident and safety-related regulations have been made in Turkey in order to improve safety, and significant progress has been made. Labor Law No.1475 has been in force in Turkey since 1971, and it was amended in 2003 with Labor Law No. 4857. Since 2012, Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 has been in force. Along with these laws, various improvements have been made in occupational health and safety. With the regulation issued in 2012, public and agricultural workers, as well as all workplaces and all employees regardless of the number of employees and the type of work, are covered within the scope of the law. In addition, risk assessment and increasing the number and capacity of occupational health and safety laboratories became compulsory for all businesses [8]. The National Occupational Health and Safety Council Regulation was issued in 2013. The aim of the council is to improve conditions related to safety in work life and to create a safety culture [15].

In spite of the arrangements made and the increase in precautions taken in Turkey in recent years, they are still far below the standards of developed countries. For this reason, many non-governmental organizations have been established, and these organizations have focused on issues such as increasing the legal rights of employees, improving working conditions, and workers being protected from harassment

*Occupational Wellbeing*

the employer [1].

problem [2].

have been made [3].

as well as to conduct studies on this issue [6].

work accident in 2016, were men [8].

at the time, when female workers with small children are on maternity leave, and when the workers are collectively brought to another place by a vehicle provided by

Today, work accidents have become one of the most critical issues for our economy. The economic and psychological costs of these accidents have become a pressure factor in business life. Even if there is no accident, the constant risk to workers because of working conditions has become a major psychological

The occurrence of accidents at workplaces and work-related diseases is of utmost importance in many respects such as protecting employee rights, fulfilling social responsibilities, and creating legal regulations. Although interest in workrelated diseases began in the time of ancient Greece, work accidents and workrelated diseases became an important issue during the Industrial Revolution and caused various labor movements and unionized employees to demand their rights. From the 19th century onwards, insurance companies began to offer insurance that covered work accidents and work-related diseases. In terms of Turkey, even though certain regulations had been in place since the 19th century in the Ottoman period, they were rather limited. After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, laws were issued in limited areas, and then their scope was extended, covering all workers. To date, these laws have been updated many times, and improvements

Although technological developments have increased occupational health and safety, the alienation towards the job brought about by specialization, and a decreased sense of investment in the job has caused loss of attention during work which has led to work accidents. In this respect, creating a safe environment is of great importance in the working environment, but creating this environment is a rather difficult process because, apart from the current organization and working group, a safe climate appeals to individual perceptions [4]. In this context, it is also important to reduce stress in the working environment. There are studies indicating that work accidents increase as the level of stress increases in the work environment. In situations where stress, fear, and disgust are present, individuals experience more cognitive dysfunction and experience more accidents [5]. This damages the safety climate in the workplace. When a work accident occurs, workers cannot work efficiently because they are afraid for their own safety. For this reason, it is particularly important to provide an Occupational Health and Safety System in every workplace

Worldwide, 2.78 million workers die every year due to work accidents and workrelated diseases. About 86.3% of these deaths are caused by work related diseases, and 13.7% are caused by work accidents. In non-fatal accidents, the number of injuries is higher. While for young workers it was determined that the accident rate was much higher, work-related diseases were lower. This situation stems from the situation of cumulative exposure to factors that cause work-related diseases and their delay time [7]. When work accidents were analyzed from a historical point of view, it was seen that they have regularly increased every year until 2010. There was a sharp decline in 2012, but later on an increase was observed. From 2012 to 2016 work accidents increased by 382%, and 84.29% of the people who experienced a

When looking at the situation regarding work accidents in Turkey in 2016, it was seen that 32,52% of accidents and 60.85% of fatal accidents occurred in businesses that employed fewer than 50 people. More than half of the accidents occurred in working hours during the day, and 28.23% occurred before noon. The three industries that experienced the most work-related accidents in 2016 in Turkey were identified as factory-made metal product manufacturing except

**132**

during the process after work accidents [16]. Although organizational safety is the responsibility of the employer, employees also have great responsibilities; they need to be careful and act consciously to prevent work accidents [14]. In this context, it is of great importance that employees use the protective gear prepared for them correctly, that they perform the emergency procedures that must be carried out in the event of an accident completely, and inform the proper authorities immediately– thus avoiding loss of lives [17].

Work accidents and diseases affect the whole country economically, socially and, psychologically. Work accidents constitute many cost elements such as lost working days, decrease in production, recruitment and training of new workers, compensation payments, and health expenditures. This situation causes state and company policies to be disrupted and sometimes not realized. In addition, the loss of human capital and the high budget share of social aid provided to the victims hinder new investments. From the perspective of the worker, the individual's loss of welfare, the psychological pressure, and loss of status that he and his family experience cause workers to feel as if they are a burden. In addition, accidents in the workplace also negatively affect other employees [6]. The aim of this study was to determine the socio-demographic and economic factors that are critical in individuals experiencing work accidents that result in injuries in Turkey. For this purpose, 10 factors were selected, and the impact of these factors on the probability of experiencing work accidents was examined. In this study, the Turkey Health Survey data made by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI) were employed.
