Coordinating the Emergency Plan with the OIZ Fire Brigade

Where does the OIZ fire brigade fit in your emergency plan?

According to the list of BTSO (Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry) at the beginning of 2026, there are 17 active organised industrial zones (OIZs) in Bursa, and in these zones plants often operate side by side, sharing roads and infrastructure. A fire breaking out at one plant becomes, within a few minutes, a problem for the neighbouring plot, the shared roads and the OIZ's response teams. The relationship between the OIZ fire brigade and the emergency plan is therefore not just a matter of "whom do we call in a fire?": how the fire brigade will get into the plant, what information it will be given and what will be done in the event of an incident at a neighbouring plant should also be written into the plan.

Having a fire brigade unit within the OIZ does not remove the employer's obligation. Art. 11 of Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety places the duty of preparing the emergency plan, appointing a sufficient number of people, training and drills on each employer individually.

We explained the general structure of the plan in our article on how to prepare an emergency plan; here we focus on alignment specific to OIZs.

Find out the response structure in Bursa's OIZs

Bursa's OIZs are spread across different districts: Bursa OSB, Nilüfer OSB, Hasanağa OSB and Kayapa OSB are in Nilüfer; the Bursa Leather Specialised and Mixed OIZ and TOSAB are in Badırga; Demirtaş OSB is in Osmangazi; Uludağ OSB is in Gürsu; Kestel OSB and Barakfakih OSB are in Kestel; TEKNOSAB is in Karacabey; İnegöl OSB, the İnegöl Furniture and Woodworking Specialised OIZ and Yenice OSB are in İnegöl; Mustafa Kemalpaşa OSB and Mustafa Kemalpaşa–Mermerciler OSB are in Mustafakemalpaşa; and Yenişehir OSB is in Yenişehir.

OIZ fire response is not organised in the same way in every zone. For example, Bursa OSB states that, in addition to its own fire brigade unit's fire and rescue response, it carries out annual fire prevention inspections at companies, endorses fire brigade reports, provides fire training, takes part in companies' drills with vehicles and personnel, and has a mutual aid protocol with the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Fire Brigade. In another zone, the first response may be made directly by the Metropolitan fire brigade.

The first step is therefore to put the following questions in writing to your own OIZ's directorate:

Adapting the plant plan to the OIZ: six headings

1. Alarm chain: Who raises the alarm, who calls 112 and the OIZ alarm line if there is one, who informs the OIZ directorate and the neighbouring plant? Each step should have an owner and a deputy for each shift.
2. Fire brigade access to the plant: Which gate is used for entry, who opens the gate, the turning area for the fire engine and the location of hydrants. For gates with card access and barriers, write down how the gate will be kept open when the alarm sounds.
3. Information pack: A one-page summary to be handed to the fire brigade when it arrives at the gate: the current evacuation plan, whether anyone remains inside, electricity and natural gas shut-off points, the sprinkler valve, and the location of the chemical store and pressurised tanks. We explained how to draw up a list of chemicals in our article on the chemical inventory.
4. Assembly point: The on-site assembly point must not overlap with the fire brigade's working area. A second assembly point depending on wind direction and, if necessary, the OIZ's shared area are designated.
5. Fire at a neighbouring plant scenario: In the event of fire, smoke or a chemical release at the factory next door, do people shelter inside the plant or evacuate? Shutting down ventilation, closing doors and windows and counting personnel are part of this scenario.
6. Shifts and holidays: Team members may be missing on the night shift; who the fire alarm is passed to when the plant is closed, and what the security guard will do, should be in writing.

OIZ emergency communication: who calls whom, and in what order?

The most practical tool for OIZ emergency communication is a one-page sequence posted next to the alarm board:

Art. 11 of the Regulation requires a list containing the names, duties and contact details of support staff to be posted in a visible place, and a replacement to be appointed for anyone who leaves. Check the list at every shift change. For support staff training, see our article on support staff training.

How is a joint OIZ drill planned?

A drill is held at least once a year, a drill form is completed and the plan is updated according to the gaps identified (Art. 13). A joint OIZ drill turns this obligation into a real rehearsal with the fire brigade:

1. 6–8 weeks before: Set a date with the OIZ directorate and fire brigade unit; make the participation request in writing.
2. Scenario: In addition to a fire inside the plant, include in the scenario the fire brigade's entry through the gate, handing over the information pack and connecting to a hydrant. For a joint scenario with adjacent plants, ask the OIZ management to coordinate.
3. Measurement: The time between the alarm and the call, the time taken to open the gate and the time taken to complete the headcount after evacuation are recorded.
4. Evaluation: Observers write down the gaps, also taking the fire brigade team's opinion; corrective actions are tracked with a person responsible and a date.

For writing scenarios and observer duties, see our article on how to carry out an emergency drill. An earthquake scenario is also particularly important in OIZs; shared roads and infrastructure may be affected at the same time. For this, read our article on the workplace earthquake emergency plan.

Common mismatches

• The telephone list in the plan is out of date; the OIZ line or responsible people are not current.
• The fire brigade waited at the gate; the card access system did not open when the alarm sounded.
• The fronts of hydrants and fire hose cabinets are blocked by pallets or vehicles.
• The evacuation plan shows the old layout; a new line or warehouse is not on the plan.
• The chemical list is not in a form that can be given to the fire brigade.
• No neighbouring plant scenario has been written at all.
• The OIZ fire brigade's practical fire training has been counted in place of workers' basic OHS training. This training is a valuable supplement, but it does not on its own cover the topic groups and duration of basic training.

The 2026 basic administrative fine for breaching emergency obligations is 22,194 TL for each unfulfilled obligation and is applied each month the breach continues. You can find the notes we have prepared for plants in Bursa OSB on our Bursa OSB page, and for other zones on our Demirtaş OSB, Nilüfer OSB and Kestel OSB pages. For aligning the plan with the OIZ see our emergency plan service, and for practical training our fire training service. You can track drill and plan renewal dates with the OHS calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

If the OIZ has a fire brigade, do we need to set up our own firefighting team?

Yes. The emergency plan and teams are each employer's own obligation. At least one support staff member is appointed for each of the firefighting, rescue and protection teams for up to 30 workers in very hazardous, 40 in hazardous and 50 in less hazardous workplaces. Your team manages a safe first response and evacuation in the time before the fire brigade arrives.

Will the OIZ fire brigade take part in our drill?

The obligation to hold the drill lies with the employer. The fire brigades of some zones, such as Bursa OSB, state that they take part in company drills with vehicles and personnel. Plan participation with the OIZ directorate a few weeks in advance; ask in writing whether such an option exists in your own OIZ.

Should a fire at a neighbouring plant be written into the emergency plan?

Yes. Art. 10/7 of the Regulation on Emergencies requires response and evacuation methods to be determined taking into account adverse effects that may come from nearby workplaces and the surroundings. Write in the plan who will decide whether to shelter inside or evacuate in the event of smoke or a chemical release.

Should we share our emergency plan with the OIZ management?

Art. 17/2 of the Regulation provides for the coordination of emergency plans in industrial zones to be ensured by the management. To enable coordination, we recommend sharing at least the contact list, the evacuation plan and special risks such as the chemical store with the OIZ management.