Bursa · Gemlik
Gemlik OSGB: OHS for the port, the free zone and olive businesses
Gemlik’s industry is shaped not around an OSB but around the ports on the gulf and the Bursa Free Zone. We build the OHS plan around cargo handling, storage and vehicle traffic on the quay.
- Location
- Gulf of Gemlik; towards Orhangazi, Mudanya and Yalova
- Leading activity
- Ports, logistics, free zone
- Agri-food
- Gemlik Olive (designation of origin)
- Key risk
- Lifting, cargo handling, vehicle and pedestrian traffic
There is no OSB in Gemlik; the risk lies in the port and the free zone
A common mistake with Gemlik is to describe the district through an OSB. The active OSB list of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) includes no organised industrial zone in Gemlik. The district’s industrial and logistics weight is carried by the port operators on the gulf and, according to the records of the Ministry of Trade, the Bursa Free Zone located in Gemlik. We plan OSGB (joint health and safety unit) services in Gemlik according to how these two areas actually work.
The ports on the gulf handle containers, Ro-Ro vehicles, steel products such as coils and pipes, project cargo and bulk cargo. In OHS terms this means cranes and hoists, container stackers, forklifts and slings; pedestrians and heavy machinery sharing the same quay; and work at night and subject to weather conditions. Lifting equipment is inspected at least once a year and load-tested once a year; tower cranes are inspected by an accredited body. We link these inspections, carried out through our solution partners, to the periodic inspection schedule and enter the results into the risk assessment.
A simple but important reminder for companies in the Bursa Free Zone: operating in a free zone does not change the obligations under Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety. Manufacturing, storage and trading companies are subject to the same rules on specialists, physicians, training and risk assessment. What makes the zone different is that these three types of business work side by side, sharing common areas. We prepare instructions and OHS training with this shared use in mind.
Gemlik’s third face is the olive. Gemlik Olive is a designation of origin registered in the name of the Gemlik Commodity Exchange; its geographical boundary covers Gemlik, İznik, Orhangazi and Mudanya. According to the registration certificate, the harvest starts at the end of October or the beginning of November and lasts until the end of December; the olives are picked by hand and processed in brine pools or in drained drums. Businesses that hire seasonal workers for the harvest and processing period need to complete induction training and pre-employment medical examinations before this calendar starts.
Areas we serve in Gemlik
- Gulf of Gemlik port areaPort operators handling containers, Ro-Ro, steel products, project cargo and bulk cargo.
- Bursa Free ZoneIn Gemlik; a zone where manufacturing, storage and trading companies operate together.
- Warehouses and bonded stores behind the portCustoms areas, warehouses and transport companies.
- Olive-growing villages and processing plantsAreas where Gemlik Olives are harvested and processed in brine and in drained drums.
Key planning notes for Gemlik
Separating pedestrians and vehicles on the quay
On sites where stackers, tractor units and forklifts operate, we put pedestrian routes, high-visibility clothing and blind-spot rules in writing.
Lifting and slings
Cranes, hoists, forklifts and slings are inspected at least once a year. For heavy loads such as steel coils and pipes, we set out sling selection and the banksman’s role in instructions.
Hazards from neighbouring facilities
On the gulf shore, the piers and warehouses of different businesses stand side by side. In the emergency plan we also address external hazards such as fires and leaks that may originate from neighbouring facilities.
Floors and handling in brine processing
Floors wet with brine, frequent turning of drums and manual handling stand out. We plan the training and examinations of seasonal workers before the harvest begins.
Key industries in Gemlik
Logistics and Warehousing
Class is determined by the code of the main activity Safe warehouse operations: forklift-pedestrian segregation, racking systems, loading docks, shift work and manual handling.Metalworking and Machinery Manufacturing
Hazardous; laser cutting and plating very hazardous Limb injuries, lifting operations and equipment inspections on CNC, machining, welding, laser cutting and plating lines.Food and Beverage Production
Class depends on the code; bread making is less hazardous OHS that manages cold rooms, slippery floors, cutting and filling machines, ammonia and steam risks together with hygiene and carrier screening.Our services in Gemlik
Frequently asked questions about OSGB services in Gemlik
Is there an OSB in Gemlik?
The active OSB list updated by BTSO at the start of 2026 includes no organised industrial zone in Gemlik. Industrial and logistics activity in the district is concentrated mainly in the ports, the Bursa Free Zone and the surrounding storage areas. That is why we build our service not around an OSB set-up but around the risks of port and warehouse operations.
Is our company in the free zone subject to OHS legislation?
Yes. Law No. 6331 covers all work and workplaces in the public and private sectors; being in a free zone does not remove these obligations. Appointing a specialist and a physician, risk assessment, training, health surveillance and the emergency plan apply in full. Appointments are made through İSG-KATİP (the Ministry’s OHS registration system) and approved by both parties within 5 days at the latest.
Who inspects our port cranes?
Cranes, hoists and other lifting equipment are inspected at least once a year by an engineer, technical teacher or technician registered in EKİPNET; the contract is concluded through İSG-KATİP at least 1 day before the inspection. A load test is carried out once a year, and a test with a load factor at least every 3 years. Tower cranes are inspected by an accredited inspection body.
What training do seasonal workers at our olive processing plant receive?
Under the 2026 training regulation, every employee, including apprentices and interns, receives at least 2 hours of face-to-face, hands-on induction training before starting work, documented with a signed record. Basic OHS training is completed within 3 months of starting work at the latest. For an employee coming from another workplace to do the same job, only the section on job- and workplace-specific risks is repeated.
Can we also get services for our warehouse in Yalova?
Yes. As Yalova borders Bursa, it is within our OSGB service area. It can be included in the same visit programme as your facility in Gemlik. For details, see the Yalova OSGB page.