Industry-specific OHS solutions
OHS for offices, retail and service businesses in Bursa
A simple OHS plan for less hazardous offices, shops and service businesses that complies with the legislation, does not disrupt your business and targets the real risks.
- Hazard class
- Typical office codes are less hazardous
- Periodic medical examination
- At least every 5 years if less hazardous
- Basic training
- 8 hours; refresher every 3 years
- Constitutional Court ruling
- Workplaces with fewer than 50 employees are covered too
OHS for less hazardous workplaces can no longer be postponed
Accounting firms, software offices, consultancies, shops, cafés, hair salons and real estate agencies… For a long time, most of these businesses saw OHS as something that belonged in factories. One reason was that the obligation to assign a physician and a specialist in less hazardous workplaces with fewer than 50 employees had been postponed for years.
That period is over. By the Constitutional Court decision published in the Official Gazette on 9 December 2025, the provision postponing the entry into force of Articles 6 and 7 of Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety for public institutions and less hazardous workplaces with fewer than 50 employees was unanimously annulled, and no new postponement was introduced. Today, even a one-person office falls within the obligation to assign a workplace physician and an OHS specialist.
In the list renewed under NACE Rev.2.1, software (62.10.00), accounting (69.20.02) and business consultancy (70.20.01) are less hazardous. Since the class of retail and other service businesses can vary by activity, we confirm it from the 6-digit code in your Social Security Institution (SGK) registration.
Risks in offices and shops differ from those in industry, but they cannot be ignored: long hours at a screen, unsuitable desks and chairs, worn extension cords, boxes falling from storeroom shelves, slipping on wet floors, working alone at closing time and customer-related stress. A risk assessment, an emergency plan, an evacuation map and at least one drill a year are mandatory in these workplaces too. In the less hazardous class, the risk assessment and emergency plan are renewed at least every 6 years, and earlier if the workplace moves or its layout changes.
Bursa Sistemer OSGB sets up a service model for less hazardous businesses that combines monthly times efficiently, keeps documents simple and targets the real risks.
The risks we encounter most often on site
Display screen equipment and ergonomics
An unsuitable screen height, a non-adjustable chair and long hours on a laptop lead to neck, back and wrist pain and eye strain. A workstation assessment makes a big difference with simple adjustments.
Electrical safety and socket load
Daisy-chained extension cords, overloaded sockets, worn cables and open electrical panels are common starting points of office and shop fires.
Slips, trips and falls
Wet floors, piles of cables and boxes, storeroom ladders and reaching for high shelves are frequent causes of accidents, especially in shop storerooms.
Psychosocial risks
A heavy work pace, customer complaints and aggressive behavior, working alone and long hours lead to stress and burnout. These risks must be addressed separately in the risk assessment.
Emergencies and escape
Locked emergency exits or exits blocked by stock, unmarked escape routes and untrained support staff are the main problems that delay evacuation, even in small workplaces.
Manual handling and storage
Receiving goods, stocking shelves and carrying boxes in shops can cause back injuries. Load weights and the use of ladders and trolleys should be planned in advance.
Sample NACE codes and hazard classes
Your hazard class is determined by the NACE code in your Social Security Institution (SGK) registration. Examples of common codes in this industry:
| NACE | Activity | Hazard class |
|---|---|---|
| 62.10.00 | Software | Less hazardous |
| 69.20.02 | Accounting | Less hazardous |
| 70.20.01 | Business consultancy | Less hazardous |
If your code is not listed, send it to us and we will confirm it against the current official list. Calculate the obligations for your class →
Health surveillance and medical testing plan
In less hazardous workplaces, periodic medical examinations are carried out at least every 5 years; for child, young and pregnant workers this interval is at most 6 months. The physician determines the tests according to the real risks of the job.
Pre-employment examination
A pre-employment examination is carried out for every employee using the Annex 2 (EK-2) form. Less hazardous workplaces with fewer than 50 employees can obtain the report from ÇASMER, a family physician or other public healthcare providers as well as from the workplace physician.
Eyes and vision
Eye strain, dryness and vision complaints are asked about during examinations of employees who work with display screen equipment; the physician refers them for an eye examination when necessary.
Musculoskeletal complaints
Neck, back and wrist pain is evaluated together with workstation ergonomics; recurring complaints are turned into adjustments to desks, chairs and screens.
Stress and psychosocial health
Sleep problems, signs of burnout and work-related stress are addressed during examinations; where needed, the physician makes recommendations on work organization and provides appropriate referrals.
Periodic inspections to keep track of
- Indoor electrical installation and earthing: at least once a year
- Portable fire extinguishers: at least once a year
- Fire detection and alarm system, sprinklers if any: at least once a year
- Generator (if any): at least once a year
- Pressure vessels such as hot water boilers and compressors (if any): at least once a year
- Ventilation systems: at least once a year
- Industrial shelving in shop storerooms: at least once a year
- Escalators (in shopping malls and stores): by an accredited inspection body
- Platform lifts for people with disabilities (if any): by an accredited inspection body from 01.01.2027
Industry-specific training topics
- Working with display screen equipment and ergonomics
- Electrical and fire safety in the office
- Emergencies, evacuation and assembly
- Using fire extinguishers
- De-escalation with customers and measures against violence
- Stress management and psychosocial risks
- Manual handling and ladder use in shop storerooms
- Preventing slips, falls and burns in cafés and restaurants
How we apply our services in this industry
Documents you should have ready for an inspection
- Determination of the hazard class from the NACE code in the SGK registration
- Approved specialist and physician contracts in İSG-KATİP (the Ministry’s OHS registration system), or the employer’s undertaking
- Risk assessment report (initialed, last page signed)
- Emergency plan, evacuation map and annual drill form
- List of support staff and first aiders (1 first aider per 20 employees)
- Pre-employment and periodic medical examination records on the Annex 2 (EK-2) form
- Induction training records, basic training attendance and exam records
- Inspection reports for the electrical installation and fire extinguishers
- Findings and recommendations logbook
- Letter appointing the employee representative
Areas where this industry is concentrated
Frequently asked questions
Does our office with 3 employees also have to obtain OHS services?
You are within the scope of the obligation. Since the Constitutional Court’s annulment decision published in the Official Gazette on 9 December 2025, there has been no postponement for less hazardous workplaces with fewer than 50 employees. You have two options: obtain the service from an OSGB (joint health and safety unit), or, as the employer or their representative, complete the Ministry’s training and provide the service yourself. With the second option, an undertaking is filed in İSG-KATİP; pre-employment and periodic medical examinations are still carried out by a workplace physician or by public healthcare providers such as ÇASMER or family physicians.
How much time is allocated to the physician and the specialist for office employees?
In less hazardous workplaces, at least 5 minutes per employee per month is allocated for the workplace physician and at least 10 minutes for the OHS specialist. In less hazardous workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, these times can be combined within the same contract year; this way, a small office can plan longer, more productive visits instead of short monthly ones. You can see your times with the obligation calculator.
How do we find out the hazard class of our shop?
The hazard class is determined by the NACE code in your SGK workplace registration and the main activity carried out at the workplace. Since the switch to the 6-digit NACE Rev.2.1 structure in 2025, class information based on old codes may no longer be valid. Retail, food and beverage, and personal services can fall under different codes and classes. If you send us your code, we confirm it against the annex of the current communiqué and set out your obligations.
Are an emergency plan and drills really necessary in an office?
Yes. An emergency plan is prepared in less hazardous workplaces too; it is renewed at least every 6 years, and earlier when relevant changes occur. At least one drill must be held each year and a drill form completed. At least one support staff member is assigned for each of the firefighting, rescue and protection teams for up to 50 employees; in workplaces with fewer than 10 employees, one person is enough for all three teams. The ratio of first aiders is one per 20 employees.
Should psychosocial risks be included in the risk assessment?
The risk assessment must cover all hazards in the workplace. In offices and retail businesses, stress, workload, customer-related violence and working alone are often more decisive than physical risks. We identify these risks through employee feedback, short surveys and incident records, and manage them with measures such as shift patterns, breaks, task allocation and closing procedures. The physician’s examination findings also feed into this assessment.
Are there OHS obligations for remote employees as well?
Remote employees are still the employer’s employees; the obligations for pre-employment examinations, training and risk assessment continue to apply. The first three topics of the basic training can be delivered remotely. In a work-from-home arrangement, screen, chair and lighting conditions, as well as psychosocial risks arising from lack of communication, must be addressed separately. We prepare a simple checklist so that employees can assess their own working environment.