Occupational Health and Safety at Istanbul Gelisim University, Turkey.
Asst. Prof. Kaan Koçali is a Turkish academic and researcher specializing in occupational health and safety, with a robust interdisciplinary background in mining engineering and workplace risk assessment. Currently serving at Istanbul Gelişim University’s Vocational School, he is also Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety and holds key roles in curriculum development, quality assurance, and Erasmus coordination. Dr. Koçali’s academic journey is underpinned by a strong foundation in engineering and entrepreneurship, complemented by his doctoral research on legal responsibilities in mining supervision. He is an active contributor to national and international academic literature, with a publication record spanning peer-reviewed journals, books, and technical articles. Dr. Koçali also brings extensive practical expertise through professional certifications in ISO standards, NEBOSH, and fire safety, reflecting his commitment to bridging theory with real-world applications in occupational safety. His work is widely cited, particularly in mining safety, risk assessment, and workplace health analytics.
Professional Profile
Scopus Profile | Google Scholar | ORCID Profile
Suitability for Best Researcher Award – Assist. Prof. Dr. Kaan Koçali
1. Interdisciplinary Expertise:
Dr. Koçali bridges engineering, occupational safety, and legal compliance, an integration that is essential for addressing modern workplace hazards in high-risk industries like mining, construction, and transportation.
2. Proven Research Impact:
He has published widely in peer-reviewed and indexed journals, including contributions to accident standardization, safety analytics, and supervisor legal responsibilities—a niche yet crucial area for national and industrial policy development.
3. Applied and Policy-Relevant Work:
His research supports real-world application, including digital safety monitoring tools, accident analysis frameworks, and standardization of occupational indicators, showing direct societal and regulatory relevance.
4. Capacity Building & Academic Leadership:
As Head of Department, Erasmus Coordinator, and Ethics Committee Member, Dr. Koçali shows leadership that extends beyond research, contributing to institutional development and internationalization.
5. Continuous Professional Development:
Over 30+ certifications, including NEBOSH, ISO Lead Auditor, and fire safety instructor training, highlight his lifelong learning mindset and commitment to academic-practical integration.
6. National Contribution & Recognition:
While formal international awards may be limited, he has received institutional honors, professional certifications, and holds key strategic academic roles. His influence on Turkey’s occupational safety landscape—through research and regulatory alignment—underscores his national impact.
Education
Dr. Kaan Koçali holds a diverse and comprehensive academic background. He earned his Ph.D. in Occupational Health and Safety from Istanbul Aydin University (2017–2021), where his dissertation focused on legal obligations and digital monitoring systems for permanent mining supervisors. He also completed two postgraduate degrees: one from Istanbul Aydin University in Occupational Health and Safety (2015–2016) and another from İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa in Mining Engineering (2011–2016). His undergraduate journey began with a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering (2007–2011) at İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, followed by a second undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Anadolu University (2010–2021). Most recently, he has been pursuing studies in Entrepreneurship at Istanbul Kultur University since 2021. This multidisciplinary academic foundation equips Dr. Koçali with a unique blend of technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial perspectives, aligning strongly with his research and professional pursuits in occupational safety, mining risk management, and regulatory compliance.
Experience
Dr. Koçali has cultivated a distinguished academic and administrative career at Istanbul Gelişim University since 2021. As Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, he is actively involved in teaching, research, and leadership roles, including chairing the Performance Evaluation Commission and coordinating Erasmus programs. His administrative involvement includes serving on the Ethics Committee, Internship and Curriculum Boards, Vocational School Council, and Alumni Relations Commission. Dr. Koçali also contributes to horizontal transfer and cafeteria supervision committees, reflecting his institutional versatility. Academically, he delivers a broad array of undergraduate and postgraduate courses on risk management, fire safety, biological hazards, and integrated management systems. Prior to academia, his experience in the mining industry and project management provided critical real-world insight that he now applies in educational settings. His professional background reinforces his commitment to enhancing occupational safety culture through education, policy development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Professional Development
Dr. Koçali has completed over 30 certifications and training programs spanning occupational health and safety, quality management, project design, and technical mining competencies. He holds A, B, and C-Class Occupational Health and Safety Expert certificates and has completed NEBOSH’s International General Certificate, Process Safety, and Safety Leadership programs. His ISO certifications include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 22000 internal auditing and documentation. Dr. Koçali also completed courses on fire risk management, workplace inspections, and emergency preparedness, such as Afet Farkındalık and Yangın Eğitmenliği. He has further enhanced his qualifications with courses in project writing, drone piloting, teaching methodology, and mental tool mastery through McMaster University. His continuous professional development demonstrates a strong commitment to lifelong learning and aligns with his goals of integrating applied safety solutions and regulatory compliance into academic and industrial settings, especially in high-risk sectors such as mining, construction, and manufacturing.
Research Focus
Dr. Koçali’s research lies at the intersection of occupational health and safety, ergonomics, and social policy, with a specific emphasis on high-risk industries such as mining and transportation. His studies address critical safety concerns, including work accident analysis, occupational diseases, safety culture, risk management, and legal responsibilities of supervisors. His scholarly contributions explore accident statistics, ergonomic assessment, anthropometric evaluations, and international labor regulations, often employing tools like the Fine-Kinney and TOPSIS methods for risk and safety evaluations. He is particularly engaged in standardization of work accident indicators, development of safety performance metrics, and regional safety planning. Through an interdisciplinary lens, he connects engineering principles, legal frameworks, and managerial strategies to design safer workplaces. His work not only serves the academic community but also informs public policy, labor standards, and industrial practices, particularly within the context of Turkey’s evolving occupational safety infrastructure.
Research Skills
Dr. Koçali possesses a rich skill set in risk assessment modeling, safety performance analysis, and qualitative and quantitative data interpretation relevant to occupational health sciences. He is proficient in applying structured methodologies like Fine-Kinney, TOPSIS, and anthropometric analysis to assess workplace hazards and evaluate safety protocols. His technical mining background further enhances his capacity to analyze complex systems such as underground blasting operations and accident causality in high-risk environments. He has demonstrated expertise in developing digital tools for compliance monitoring and legal tracking in workplace safety, as evident from his doctoral dissertation. Dr. Koçali also integrates ISO-based management systems (9001, 14001, 45001, 22000) into risk-based safety design. His competencies include scholarly writing, field surveys, policy evaluation, and curriculum development, contributing to national and international discourse in occupational safety. These skills position him as a valuable researcher and educator in the fields of ergonomics, work design, and regulatory health systems.
Awards and Honors
While no specific competitive awards are listed, Dr. Kaan Koçali’s honors are embedded in his academic appointments, certifications, and professional recognition. Being appointed as Head of Department and Performance Evaluation Commission Chair at Istanbul Gelişim University reflects institutional acknowledgment of his leadership and subject expertise. His certifications from globally respected institutions such as NEBOSH, IOSH, and SIGMACERT Global—including lead auditor and safety specialist credentials—demonstrate high-level professional recognition. Additionally, he is entrusted with quality assurance, Erasmus coordination, and educational strategy, which signifies peer recognition of his multidisciplinary impact and administrative reliability. His scholarly output—comprising multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, including those indexed in SSCI and Scopus—is a testament to his research quality and relevance. Furthermore, his involvement in the Turkish occupational safety regulatory framework, including work on post-disaster analysis, labor inspections, and risk standardization, positions him as a thought leader in the domain of occupational health and safety in Turkey.
Publication Top Notes
Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu’nun 2012–2020 Yılları Arası İş Kazaları Göstergelerinin Standardizasyonu
Akademik Yaklaşımlar Dergisi, Vol. 12(2), pp. 302–327
Cited by: 46 | Year: 2021
Summary: Proposes a standardized framework for evaluating occupational accident indicators from the Turkish Social Security Institution (SGK) between 2012–2020, improving data consistency and comparison in labor safety research.
Calculation of Occupational Accident Indicators of Türkiye
INSAC Social and Education Sciences, pp. 222–250
Cited by: 18 | Year: 2021
Summary: Presents a methodology for calculating national-level occupational accident rates in Türkiye, aiding policymakers and safety professionals in evidence-based decision-making.
Maden Kazalarında Sorumluluklar ve Kusur Oranları
Nobel Yayın Kitapevi
Cited by: 14 | Year: 2021
Summary: Analyzes legal responsibilities and fault ratios in mining accidents, offering insights into liability allocation between employees, employers, and contractors.
Açık Ocak Maden İşletmelerinde İşçi Anketleri ile İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Kültürü ve Uygulamasının Araştırılması
Bilimsel Madencilik Dergisi, Vol. 57(1), pp. 15–24
Cited by: 14 | Year: 2018
Summary: Investigates occupational health and safety (OHS) culture in open-pit mining through worker surveys, highlighting gaps in practice versus policy.
Şırnak Kömür Madeni Kazası Işığında Kömür Madenciliğindeki Uygunsuzluklar Hakkında Öneriler
ICCET 2018 Bildiriler Kitabı, pp. 387–399
Cited by: 10 | Year: 2018
Summary: Uses the Şırnak coal mine disaster as a case study to suggest actionable recommendations for addressing safety noncompliance in Turkish coal mining.
How to Perform a Risk Assessment Step by Step for Occupational Health and Safety
EURAS Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Vol. 2(1), pp. 1–19
Cited by: 7 | Year: 2022
Summary: Offers a practical, structured approach to conducting workplace risk assessments aligned with occupational health and safety standards.
Legal Regulations Regarding Liabilities of Workers and Employers Related to Occupational Health and Safety in Mining
Ulusal Başkent Disiplinler Arası Bilimsel Çalışmalar Kongresi, pp. 357–358
Cited by: 7 | Year: 2021
Summary: Reviews Turkish legal statutes governing the OHS responsibilities of employers and employees in the mining sector.
Madencilikte Proje Şirketlerinin Önemi
Maden Ocak Teknolojileri Dergisi, pp. 82–86
Cited by: 6 | Year: 2013
Summary: Discusses the strategic role of project-based companies in mining operations and their influence on operational safety and efficiency.
18–65 Yaş Arası Kişilerin Antropometrik Verilerinin Belirlenmesi Üzerine Bir Alan Araştırması: Yükseköğretim Kurumu Uygulaması
Ergonomi, Vol. 4(3), pp. 147–161
Cited by: 5 | Year: 2021
Summary: Conducts a field study on anthropometric measurements of adults aged 18–65 to inform ergonomic design in higher education institutions.
Türkiye’de 2017 Yılında Yaşanan Kömür Madeni Faciası Sonrası Sektörün İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği Açısından İrdelenmesi
The Journal of Academic Social Science, Vol. 95, pp. 486–496
Cited by: 5 | Year: 2019
Summary: Examines the OHS implications of the 2017 coal mining disaster in Türkiye and evaluates subsequent sectoral reforms and shortcomings.
Conclusion
Dr. Kaan Koçali is an exemplary mid-career academic-researcher who has made distinctive, policy-informing, and socially impactful contributions to the field of occupational health and safety. His blend of research productivity, professional certifications, educational leadership, and real-world application makes him highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award—particularly in categories honoring applied sciences, public safety, or interdisciplinary engineering.