Industry-specific OHS solutions
OHS for logistics and warehousing businesses in Bursa
An OHS service that manages the risks of warehouse operations on site, from forklift traffic to high-bay racking and from loading docks to the night shift, and tracks the inspection and training schedule from a single point.
- Hazard class
- Based on the NACE code of the main activity
- Forklifts and pallet trucks
- Inspected at least once a year
- Industrial racking
- Inspected at least once a year
- First aiders
- 1 per 20, 15 or 10 employees by class
Why do most warehouse accidents happen in traffic?
Bursa’s industrial structure requires a strong logistics network: distribution centers around the organized industrial zones (OIZs), warehouses feeding parts just in time to the automotive manufacturers, bonded warehouses and container yards around the port and free zone in Gemlik, and e-commerce and retail warehouses in the city are all part of this network. Whether a warehouse is small or large, the source of the most serious accidents is usually the same: forklifts and pedestrians sharing the same space.
In logistics and warehousing, the hazard class is not tied to a single code. Storage, courier services, road haulage and port services fall under different codes. A manufacturing plant’s own warehouse is subject to the class of that plant’s main activity. If you are an independent logistics company, we confirm your class against the 6-digit code in your Social Security Institution (SGK) registration, using the list revised in 2025 in line with NACE Rev.2.1.
Warehouse risks fall into a few headings:
- Traffic: Interaction of forklifts, pallet trucks and stackers with pedestrians, with each other and with trucks
- Racking systems: Damaged uprights, missing load capacity signs, overloading and incorrect stacking
- Loading docks: Unexpected truck movement, the gap between dock and vehicle, forklift use inside the trailer
- Manual handling: Repetitive lifting, reaching and bending during order picking
- Shifts: Night work, fatigue and extended hours in peak periods
Measures against these risks are usually not expensive, but they require continuous management. Pedestrian walkways get painted and, over time, pallets end up on them. Rack protectors are fitted, but a damaged upright goes unreported. The daily forklift checklist is filled in, yet the truck keeps being used without the defect being fixed.
In warehouses, Bursa Sistemer OSGB starts by drawing the traffic flow: we map vehicle and pedestrian routes, crossing points, docks and charging areas, and prioritize measures based on this map. We track forklift and racking inspection dates on an annual schedule (the inspections themselves are provided through our solution partners) and audit operator competence and daily check practice.
The risks we encounter most often on site
Forklift-pedestrian interaction
Blind spots, reversing and high speed cause the most serious accidents. Physically segregated pedestrian walkways, mirrors and warning lights at crossings, and speed limits must be applied together.
Racking collapse and falling materials
Damaged uprights, racks without load capacity signs and incorrect stacking create risk. Rack protectors, a damage reporting system and the annual periodic inspection are run together.
Loading docks
Trucks moving off while a forklift is in the trailer, falls from the dock edge and entrapment at the dock leveler occur. Wheel chocks or vehicle restraint systems and dock markings are checked.
Manual handling and order picking
Frequently repeated lifting, reaching and twisting lead to back and shoulder disorders. Load weights, shelf heights and handling aids are planned through an ergonomic assessment.
Battery charging areas
Charging electric forklifts involves hydrogen build-up, acid splashes and electrical risk. The charging area needs ventilation, an eyewash station and extinguishing equipment; for lithium batteries the manufacturer’s instructions apply.
Shifts and fatigue
Night shifts and peak-season overtime increase loss of concentration. The shift plan, break arrangements and the health of night workers are monitored together.
Health surveillance and medical testing plan
Health surveillance of warehouse employees focuses on manual handling, shift patterns and forklift use. Your hazard class determines the periodic medical examination interval, while the job determines the content of the tests.
Fitness for work of operators
The physician assesses the fitness for work of those who will operate forklifts and stackers, a job requiring good vision, hearing and attention. In warehouses in the hazardous and very hazardous classes, an operator cannot start work without this report.
Musculoskeletal system
Employees doing order picking and loading are asked about back and shoulder complaints during examinations; recurring complaints are fed back into the design of workstations and loads.
Night workers
The physician assesses the sleep patterns, chronic illnesses and medication use of night shift workers and determines their suitability for the shift plan accordingly.
Noise and exhaust fumes
Where the upper exposure action value of 85 dB(A) is exceeded on conveyor sorting lines, hearing tests are mandatory. If diesel or LPG vehicles are used indoors, exposure to exhaust fumes is also assessed.
Periodic inspections to keep track of
- Forklifts, stackers and pallet trucks: at least once a year
- Industrial racking systems: at least once a year
- Industrial doors (sectional and high-speed doors): at least once a year
- Conveyors and sorting systems: at least once a year
- Lifting platforms and load lifting accessories: at least once a year
- Compressors and air receivers: once a year at operating pressure
- Indoor electrical installations, earthing and generators: at least once a year
- Fire detection, sprinklers, hydrants and extinguishers: at least once a year
- Ventilation (including battery charging areas): at least once a year
Industry-specific training topics
- Forklift-pedestrian segregation and warehouse traffic rules
- Recognizing and reporting racking damage
- Safe loading and unloading at the dock
- Manual handling and correct lifting techniques
- Safety in battery charging areas
- Load securing and stacking safety
- Fatigue management on the night shift
- Fire, evacuation and use of extinguishers
- Site rules for drivers and visitors
How we apply our services in this industry
Documents you should have ready for an inspection
- Hazard class determination based on the main activity and a warehouse risk assessment
- Warehouse traffic plan and pedestrian-vehicle route sketch
- Periodic inspection reports for forklifts and pallet trucks
- Racking periodic inspection report and racking load capacity signs
- Daily forklift checklists
- Operator competence certificates and fitness-for-work reports
- Induction and basic OHS training records by shift
- Emergency plan, evacuation plans posted at entrances and on each floor, most recent drill form
- Inspection reports for electrical, fire and door systems
- PPE issue records (high-visibility vests, safety footwear)
- First aider certificates and distribution of first aiders across shifts
Areas where this industry is concentrated
Frequently asked questions
Is periodic inspection of our racking mandatory?
Yes. In Annex III, revised on 23 December 2025, industrial racking is listed among the equipment with a maximum inspection interval of one year. If the manufacturer’s instructions or the relevant standard specify a shorter interval, that interval applies. This inspection may only be carried out by authorized persons registered in EKİPNET (the Ministry’s register of authorized inspectors): engineers, technical teachers, technicians or senior technicians. The annual inspection alone is not enough; an internal system for immediately reporting damaged uprights must also be set up.
What documents should forklift operators have?
The file must contain a document showing that the operator is competent to operate a forklift (e.g. an operator certificate approved by the Ministry of National Education, MEB) and a fitness-for-work report from the workplace physician. In addition, induction training on site-specific routes, speed and load limits must be given and recorded. If forklift operation falls within the jobs requiring vocational training, no one without the certificate may be employed in this job; we assess your positions together with you.
Is painting pedestrian walkways in the warehouse enough?
Floor markings are a start, but on their own they are not enough. Physical segregation with barriers wherever possible, mirrors, light signals or stop lines at crossing points, speed limiting on forklifts and floor-projected warning lights should be used together. Pedestrian walkways must not be blocked by pallets or materials; this is one of the most common nonconformities we find during warehouse visits. Defining a separate waiting area for visitors and truck drivers also noticeably reduces pedestrian traffic inside the warehouse.
Do night shift workers need additional health checks?
The health of night workers is assessed separately at pre-employment and periodic medical examinations; the physician may shorten the examination interval based on chronic illness, sleep patterns and medication use. For child, young and pregnant workers, the periodic medical examination is carried out at least every 6 months. Major changes to the shift pattern must also be reflected in the risk assessment. The shift plan should also guarantee that a trained first aider and emergency support team members are on site throughout the night.
How should we manage training for seasonal and temporary workers?
Every new employee receives at least 2 hours of induction training, face to face and hands-on, before starting work; this training does not count toward the basic OHS training hours and is documented with a signed record. Basic OHS training is completed within 3 months of starting work at the latest. For an employee who has done the same job and changes workplace, only the job-specific risks section is repeated. We prepare the training schedule together with you before the peak period.
How should a forklift battery charging area be set up?
Because charging lead-acid batteries releases hydrogen, the charging area must be well ventilated, with no ignition sources or smoking areas nearby. An eyewash station and suitable gloves and face protection are kept ready against acid splashes, along with a suitable extinguisher. For lithium batteries, charging conditions are determined by the manufacturer’s instructions. The ventilation system is inspected at least once a year under Annex III.