In brief
Returning to the factory after an earthquake is not a single "we can go back in" decision but a sequenced process. First the structure and escape routes are assessed, then energy is restored under control, racks are unloaded and inspected, pressure vessels, installations and lifting equipment are checked by competent persons, and machines are brought back into service one by one at the end. The Regulation on Work Equipment explicitly requires the necessary periodic inspections after natural events.
Returning to work after an earthquake is a process
The shaking has stopped, everyone is at the assembly point and the headcount is complete. The question on the manager's mind is clear: "When do we get back to production?" When returning to work after an earthquake, the most dangerous minutes often come after the shaking itself: walking under a cracked rack, switching the main breaker back on while there is a smell of gas, running a press whose anchors have come loose. We covered preparation before an earthquake and behaviour during the shaking in our article on earthquakes at work; this article deals with the return decision and the restart sequence.
Four provisions in the legislation link directly to this process:
- Art. 7/2-b of the Regulation on Health and Safety Requirements for the Use of Work Equipment requires the necessary periodic inspections to be carried out by competent persons after events that may affect safety, such as accidents, natural events or long periods out of use. An inspection is also required if non-mobile equipment has moved (Art. 7/2-a).
- Art. 12/2 of the Regulation on Risk Assessment requires the assessment to be fully or partly renewed when buildings change or a new hazard arises from outside the workplace.
- Art. 14/1 of the Regulation on Emergencies requires the plan to be renewed when changes occur at or near the workplace that affect emergencies.
- Annex 1, item 3 of the Regulation on Workplace Buildings and Premises requires workplace buildings to be suitable for the work and structurally sound enough.
Bursa and the neighbouring provinces we serve, such as Kocaeli, Sakarya and Yalova, lie in the high earthquake risk zone of the Marmara region. Writing the return procedure into the emergency plan in advance is therefore much safer than improvising after the shaking.
The first hours: headcount, cordon and energy
Three tasks are completed before the assessment of returning to the building begins:
- Headcount and missing persons. If anyone is missing at the assembly point, the place where the person was last seen is reported to the rescue team and to 112. Untrained people do not enter a damaged building to search.
- Cordon. Areas where parts may fall from facade panels, glass, chimneys or outdoor racks are closed off with tape. If the assembly point is close to such structures, it is moved further away.
- Energy isolation. If the main electrical breaker and the main natural gas valve have not been shut off, they are shut off if the isolation points can be reached safely. The electricity and gas isolation points that should be in the emergency plan prove their value at this moment.
If there is a leak in a chemical store, acid tank or battery room, the response follows the spill procedure with suitable PPE; for details see our article on chemical spill response.
Post-earthquake building check
The decision on whether the building can be used is made through a damage assessment by the relevant authorities and, where necessary, a structural assessment by a civil engineer. The OHS specialist and the maintenance team do not replace this, but knowing what to look for while the assessment is awaited gives the decision-maker accurate information.
In a building that has passed the structural assessment, the OHS team checks the following:
- Escape routes and doors: Do emergency exit doors open, has material fallen on the stairs, does emergency lighting work?
- Suspended ceiling and facade: Are loosened ceiling panels, light fittings and ventilation ducts secure?
- Fire systems: Broken or leaking sprinkler pipes, operation of the fire pump, hydrants and extinguishers in place.
- Partition walls: Do lightweight partitions and walls inside the warehouse pose a risk of toppling?
Racks and warehouses: the risk of rack collapse
In an earthquake, rack collapse is not only the complete failure of a rack. A rack with a bent upright, loosened anchors or a beam out of its slot can collapse at the first forklift contact or in an aftershock. What to do:
- The front and back of a damaged rack run are closed off; nobody walks underneath or climbs on the rack.
- Loads that have shifted or are about to fall are brought down under the supervision of a responsible person, in an order that does not leave the rack system unevenly loaded.
- Uprights, beams, locking pins and floor anchors are checked. Industrial racking is already subject to an annual periodic inspection; the post-earthquake inspection is carried out by a competent person who issues a report.
- A rack section that does not pass inspection is not loaded until it is repaired, and is tagged.
For rack damage classification and daily checks, see our article on industrial racking safety.
Pressure vessels and installations
Shaking strains pipe connections, flanges and tank legs. The following equipment is checked before being brought back into service:
| Equipment | Points to check | Who inspects? |
|---|---|---|
| Compressor and air receiver | Legs and anchors, safety valve, connection leaks | Person competent for periodic inspection |
| Steam boiler, thermal oil boiler | Shell, safety devices, flue connection, fuel line | Person competent for periodic inspection |
| LPG tank and installation | Tank seating, pipeline, leak test | Accredited inspection body |
| Indoor natural gas installation | Leaks, pipe supports, valves | Gas distribution company or authorised firm |
| Indoor electrical installation and earthing | Panel connections, cable trays, earthing continuity | Person competent for periodic inspection |
| Fire installation | Sprinklers, hydrants, pump, detection | Person competent for periodic inspection |
| Overhead crane, crane, forklift | Rail alignment, load-bearing structure, brakes | Person competent for periodic inspection |
Inspections are carried out by engineers, technical teachers, technicians or senior technicians registered on EKİPNET (the Ministry's register of persons authorised for periodic inspections); for some equipment, such as LPG tanks and installations, an accredited inspection body is mandatory. The inspection contract is made through ISG-KATİP (the Ministry's online OHS registration system). For maximum intervals by equipment type see our articles on periodic inspection intervals for work equipment, and for pressure vessels see pressure vessels and compressor tanks.
Post-earthquake machine inspection
Once the installations are safe, machines are dealt with one by one. Filling in a short checklist card for each machine is the best tool against the pressure to "switch everything on at once":
- Has the machine shifted; are anchor bolts and levelling feet in place?
- Are guards, covers and interlocks undamaged and working?
- Have emergency stop buttons and two-hand controls been tested?
- Are hydraulic and pneumatic hoses crushed, leaking or broken?
- Have die, fixture and workpiece fastenings come loose?
While the maintenance team works on a machine, energy isolation is applied; we described the method in our article on lockout and tagout. Fixed equipment that has moved and lifting equipment are not used before inspection by a competent person.
The order for restarting work after an earthquake
The sequence below is a general framework for a production facility. Who makes the decision at the end of each stage should be determined in advance.
| Stage | What is done? | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Structure | Damage assessment and, if necessary, structural assessment | Employer, based on the authorities' and engineer's opinion |
| 2. Escape and fire | Escape routes, emergency lighting, fire systems | OHS team and maintenance |
| 3. Energy | Controlled restoration of electricity and gas, leak check | Authorised electrician, gas company |
| 4. Warehouses | Unloading, inspecting and tagging racks | Competent inspector |
| 5. Pressure vessels, lifting | Periodic inspection and report | Competent person or accredited body |
| 6. Machines | Checklist card, trial run | Maintenance lead and department supervisor |
| 7. Production | Start at limited capacity, observation on the first shift | Employer |
Once production restarts, the risk assessment is updated with the post-earthquake findings, the emergency plan is reviewed, and problems encountered during the return are recorded as corrective actions. If an occupational accident occurred during this process, it is reported to the Social Security Institution (SGK) within 3 working days of the accident. Employees may need to go back to the assembly point during aftershocks; in the first days, give a short briefing that reminds them of the roles assigned in drills. The psychological effects of the earthquake on employees should also be monitored together with the workplace physician.
To add a post-earthquake return procedure to your plan, see our emergency plan service, and for planning equipment inspections, our periodic inspection service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides on returning to the building after an earthquake?
The employer makes the decision, but it must be based on the damage assessment of the relevant authorities and, where necessary, a structural assessment by a civil engineer. If there are signs of damage to the load-bearing system, the building is not used until it has been assessed.
Is a periodic inspection mandatory after an earthquake?
Art. 7/2-b of the Regulation on Work Equipment requires the necessary periodic inspections to be carried out by competent persons after events that may affect safety, such as natural events. Pressure vessels, lifting equipment, racking and electrical installations are priorities within this scope.
Can we run a machine straight away if it looks undamaged?
First it is confirmed that the installations are safe, then anchor, guard, emergency stop and hose checks are carried out on the machine. Fixed equipment that has moved is not used before inspection by a competent person.
Does the risk assessment need to be renewed?
If the building has changed or the earthquake has created a new hazard from outside the workplace, the risk assessment is fully or partly renewed. The emergency plan is also reviewed in light of the problems seen during the earthquake.
An emergency plan that really works on site, with scenarios, support teams, evacuation diagrams and an annual drill.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.