In brief
A work accident is reported to the police immediately and to the SGK within 3 working days after the accident; the notification is made through the SGK's "Work Accident and Occupational Disease E-Notification" application using the workplace user code and password. The screens ask for workplace, accident and insured person information; gathering this information in a single file beforehand reduces errors. For late notification, the SGK imposes an administrative fine and recovers from the employer the temporary incapacity benefit paid up to the notification date.
Notification deadline and legal basis
The order of actions after a work accident and the first 72 hours are explained in our article on what to do after a work accident. This article focuses on just one step: how to file a work accident e-notification, what each screen asks for and where mistakes are made.
The notification obligation is regulated in two laws:
- Law No. 5510 Art. 13: The employer reports the work accident immediately to the competent local police or gendarmerie, and to the SGK at the latest within three working days after the accident. If the accident occurred somewhere outside the employer's control, the period starts from the date the accident became known.
- Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety Art. 14/2: The same three-working-day period; for occupational disease, the period is three working days from the date the employer learns of the disease reported by the healthcare provider or the workplace physician.
The form and content of the notification are set by the Work Accident and Occupational Disease Notification Form annexed to the SGK's Regulation on Social Insurance Procedures; the e-notification screens are the electronic version of this work accident notification form. The process is often confused with e-Bildirge, through which monthly premium and service documents are submitted; what is thought of as an "e-Bildirge work accident" notification is actually made on a separate application, the Work Accident and Occupational Disease E-Notification screen. The form is submitted electronically; as stated on the SGK application's login page, notification made online is sufficient, and no separate written notification to the SGK or the Ministry is required.
Who reports a work accident?
The notification obligation lies with the employer. The notification can be made on the employer's behalf by the human resources or accounting department, which uses the workplace's SGK user credentials. The OHS specialist investigates the event and helps to describe it correctly; however, the employer is responsible for making the notification.
Two situations are often confused:
- Subcontractor's worker: If the injured person is insured by the subcontractor, the subcontractor makes the notification from its own workplace registration. The system does not allow a notification for an insured person who does not work at that workplace.
- Hospital notification: The notification by the healthcare provider treating the injured person (6331 Art. 14/4) is a separate obligation and does not replace the employer's notification.
Information to gather before starting the notification
Before opening the screens, gather the following information in one file. A notification started with incomplete information is left unfinished or saved with an incorrect selection.
| Information | Where is it obtained? |
|---|---|
| Date, time, province-district and full address of the accident | Shift supervisor's initial report form |
| Number of people injured in the accident | On-site record |
| Identity and contact details of witnesses | Witness statements |
| Injured person's Turkish national ID number, occupation and job at the workplace | Personnel file |
| Start time of work on the day of the accident | Shift roster, timesheet |
| General activity and specific activity at the time of the accident | Witness and supervisor accounts |
| Tools and equipment used and that caused the injury | Accident site investigation |
| Type of injury and part of the body | Healthcare provider document |
| Place, time and provider of medical treatment | First aid record, hospital documents |
| Incapacity status and lost working days | Medical report (if not yet known, the known status) |
How to file a work accident e-notification: the screens step by step
The flow below is based on the user guide annexed to SGK Circular 2012/13, which introduced electronic notification. Menu names may change over time; the logic of the fields remains the same.
- Login. Log in to the SGK's "Work Accident and Occupational Disease E-Notification (Employer Notification)" application using the user code and workplace password issued to the workplace by the SGK, and enter the security code.
- Workplace information. The system retrieves the workplace information from the user code; the details of the person making the notification are entered.
- Accident search. The province, district and date of the accident are entered. If the same accident has already been recorded (for example, if there is more than one injured person), that accident is selected from the list; if the list is empty, a new record is created with "define accident time and address".
- Accident information. The event that caused the accident, the tools and equipment that caused it, the place and section where it occurred, how and why it happened, the number of people injured and the witnesses are entered. If there are several witnesses, each is added separately.
- Insured person query. The insured person's details are retrieved with the injured person's Turkish national ID number.
- Insured person information. The person's main job or occupation, their job at the workplace, the general and specific activity at the time of the accident, the event and equipment causing the injury, the type of injury and part of the body, the working environment, the start time of work, whether they continued working after the accident, incapacity status and medical treatment information are entered.
- Save and document. The process is completed with "save notification". Print the record from the viewing screen and put it in the accident file.
Occupational disease notification is also made through the same application; here the date of diagnosis, how it was detected, the diagnosis, the causative agent and the duration of exposure are requested. For the diagnosis process, see our occupational disease guide.
Common mistakes
- Arguing about the deadline because of the weekend. Three working days is the limit, not the target. Make the notification on the first working day.
- Forgetting to notify the police. 5510 Art. 13 requires immediate notification to the police or gendarmerie, separately from the SGK notification.
- Waiting for the length of the medical report. The period of incapacity may not be known in the first few days; this is not a reason to delay the notification. Enter the known status and update it later.
- Confusing occupation with job. According to the guide, the "main job" is the occupation the person acquired through education, and the "job" is their official position at the workplace.
- Writing an account of the event that differs from the internal report. The SGK may carry out an investigation if necessary; the account must be consistent with witness statements and the accident investigation report.
- Simply writing "carelessness". In the field describing how it happened, write concretely what happened: which machine, which movement, which condition.
- Starting the clock incorrectly for a shuttle bus accident. In places outside the employer's control, the period starts from the date the accident became known; record the date it became known.
Two examples for the "how it happened" field
Weak account: "The worker cut his hand through carelessness."
Strong account: "At 10:40 on assembly line 2, the left palm of a worker deburring a 3 mm sheet metal part with a hand tool was cut when it rubbed against the edge of the part. The worker was wearing cut-resistant gloves; the part was being held by hand instead of in the holding fixture. The shift first aider responded and the worker was referred to hospital."
The second account states what happened, where and under what conditions; it can be used both for the SGK's assessment and for your own root cause analysis.
What should remain in the file after notification?
The job is not finished when the notification is saved. The accident file should contain:
- The printout of the e-notification record and the date of recording.
- The date of notification to the police or gendarmerie and any report drawn up.
- Witness statements, photographs and the accident investigation report.
- Healthcare provider documents and incapacity reports; if the report period is extended, update the information in the notification.
- The record of additional training given to the injured person on returning to work.
- The date of the revision made to the risk assessment.
6331 Art. 14/1 also requires all work accidents to be recorded, investigated and reported.
Record keeping and incident investigation are obligations separate from notification; to find the causes, see our article on root cause analysis methods. Which events count as work accidents is covered in our article on situations considered work accidents.
Consequences of late notification
Late notification, or no notification at all, has two separate consequences:
| Consequence | Legal basis | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative fine | 6331 Art. 26 | The 2026 base amount for breach of the notification obligation is 44,443 TL; the fine is imposed directly by the SGK and the amount is increased according to the number of workers and the hazard class. |
| Recovery of the benefit from the employer | 5510 Art. 21 | If the accident is not reported on time, the temporary incapacity benefit payable to the insured person for the period up to the notification date is recovered from the employer by the SGK. |
You can calculate the increased amounts and other items with the OHS administrative fines tool. In our OHS specialist service, we carry out the accident investigation and prepare the information required for the notification together with the department of the business that makes the notification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credentials are used to log in for SGK work accident notification?
The login screen asks for the user code issued to the workplace by the SGK, the workplace password and the security code on the screen. These credentials belong to the employer; make sure the person making the notification has been authorised by the employer.
Is a petition to the SGK needed after notifying online?
No. The SGK's application page states that notification made online is sufficient and that no separate written notification to the SGK or the Ministry is required. Keep a printout of the record in your file.
I made a mistake in the notification; can I correct it?
According to the guide, when you query an insured person already recorded for the same accident, the system gives a warning and allows you to update the record. Make the correction without delay and keep it consistent with your internal records.
When does the period start for an accident in a shuttle vehicle?
An accident on the way to or from work in a vehicle provided by the employer is a work accident under 5510 Art. 13. Because the accident occurred somewhere outside the employer's control, the three-working-day period starts from the date the employer learned of the accident; record the date and source of this information in writing.
If the injured person is a subcontractor's worker, who makes the notification?
The employer that employs the injured person as an insured worker, that is, the subcontractor, reports it from its own workplace registration. It is also advisable for the principal employer to record the event in its own records and take part in the investigation, in line with the coordination obligation in 6331 Art. 23.
A certified specialist matched to your hazard class: site inspections, approved logbook, training plan, annual plan and report follow-up.
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.