Turkey’s Process Safety Practices: New Regulations & Future Outlook

Industrial accidents in production facilities not only cause disruptions in operations, but also impose serious harm to human health and the environment. That is why process safety has become one of the most critical priorities in Turkey's industrial policy and occupational safety landscape.

In recent years, the implementation of the BEKRA Regulation and reforms aligned with the European Union's Seveso Directive have fundamentally changed how companies approach risk management.

Legal Framework for Process Safety in Turkey

• The BEKRA Regulation (Regulation on the Control of Major Industrial Accidents), harmonized with the Seveso Directive, aims to regulate chemical inventories and process risks at facilities.

• Facilities are classified as either Lower Tier or Upper Tier depending on the quantities of hazardous substances they hold.

• Upper Tier facilities are legally obliged to prepare a Safety Report detailing the major accident hazards and mitigation strategies.

Recent Developments

1. Increased Audits & Inspections
   The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization & Climate Change and occupational safety authorities have intensified inspections. Detailed field audits are now common, especially in Seveso-covered upper-tier facilities.

2. Explosion Protection Document (PKD) Requirement
   PKD—particularly for ATEX and dust explosion scenarios—has become one of the most scrutinized documents during inspections.

3. Emergence of New Risk Analysis Approaches
   Alongside traditional methods like HAZOP, LOPA, and BowTie, the use of COSHH/ILO-based chemical exposure analyses is gaining traction in Turkey.

4. Pressure for International Compliance
   Local operations of global companies are not only meeting legal obligations but also increasingly integrating standards like ISO 31000 (Risk Management) and ISO 45001 (OHS Management) into their systems.

Recommendations for Facilities

• Maintain an up-to-date chemical inventory and continually monitor BEKRA's tonnage thresholds.

• Periodically review and update process safety analyses (HAZOP, LOPA, BowTie).

• Reassess your PKD, ATEX zoning classifications, and explosion parameters (e.g. Kₛₜ, Pₘₐₓ).

• Establish a safety management system aligned with ISO standards to build a sustainable culture of safety.

Conclusion

In Turkey, process safety is no longer merely a legal obligation—it has become an asset for reputation, sustainability, and competitive advantage. Firms that stay ahead of regulations and align with both national and international standards will not only reduce risks but also strengthen their position in global markets.

"For expert support in your process safety and BEKRA compliance journey, contact us."