Evaluation of Working Conditions and Professional Independence Perceptions of Occupational Health and Safety Professionals

The aim of this article is to provide quantitative information about occupational health and safety professionals' working conditions and professional independence. The data were obtained through questionnaires applied to employees in the field of occupational health and safety. The validity value of the questions in the questionnaires was calculated as 0.901. The obtained data were analyzed with descriptive statistical techniques. According to the results, the wages and job satisfaction level of occupational health and safety professionals are average, but below what it should be. Health and safety professionals are employed above legal limits. Some of them cannot adequately benefit from their rights such as overtime pay, annual leave, rest breaks and severance pay. On the other hand, there is no job security to ensure the professional independence of health and safety professionals.