Working dangerous in energy, mining sectors

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Fourteen percent of occupational accidents and 60 percent of occupational diseases were detected in people working in the energy and mining industries last year, according to data compiled by the national insurance agency.

Of 74,871 occupational accidents last year, 10,332 were in the energy and mining industries.

A majority of occupational accidents in these industries occurred during coal and/or lignite extraction activities. Around 9,000 workers, all men, were injured during such activities.

In addition, 395 occupational diseases were seen in Turkey last year, 236 of which were detected in people working in the above-mentioned industries.

A total of 2,554 miners died and more than 13,000 lost the ability to work between 1991 and 2008.