Construction Site OHS Checklist 2026: 50 Items + Law 6331

What Is an OHS Checklist and Why Is It Critical?

An OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) checklist is the official form filled out at daily, weekly, and monthly intervals to document that all work conducted on a construction site complies with Law 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety and the Construction OHS Regulation. It is not just a bureaucratic requirement; it is a critical tool that prevents accidents, creates evidence in audits, and limits contractor liability.

In Turkey, construction work is classified as a "very dangerous" industry under the OHS Law's hazard classification. This classification means stricter inspections, shorter periodic health reports, at least one monthly OHS committee meeting, the requirement to maintain a permanent occupational safety specialist, and the obligation to maintain a daily checklist.

As of 2026, the most frequently cited issue in inspections by the Ministry of Labour and Social Services (AÇSHB — formerly ÇSGB) is inadequate or completely missing daily OHS control records. The minimum fine threshold has risen above 10,000 TL with the 2026 update and is applied cumulatively in cases of multiple deficiencies.

This checklist should be used not only for inspection purposes but as a genuine accident-prevention tool. As we discussed in our pillar article Complete Construction Project Management Guide 2026, OHS risks should be tracked as a separate category under the project risk register.

Construction Accident Statistics in Turkey 2024

According to the 2024 annual workplace accident statistics published by the Social Security Institution (SGK) and AÇSHB, the construction sector's situation in Turkey remains critical:

• Annual workplace accidents: Approximately 600,000 workplace accidents were reported across all sectors; 33-37% occurred in the construction sector
• Fatal workplace accidents: In 2024, 38-42% of approximately 1,700-1,900 fatal workplace accidents originated from the construction sector
• Most common causes of death (construction): Falls from heights (~42%), struck-by/object falls (21%), electrical (9%), crushing/entrapment (14%), traffic (8%), other (6%)
• Financial impact: The cost of construction accidents to SGK and employers exceeded 8 billion TL in 2024 (treatment + lost labor + workplace accident premiums + administrative fines)
• Number of inspections: AÇSHB conducted over 75,000 inspections at construction sites in 2024; administrative fines were imposed in 58% of these inspections

These statistics tell us one thing: filling out the OHS checklist correctly and daily is a life-saving practice that goes beyond legal obligation.

Daily OHS Checklist (50 Items)

The following 50-item daily OHS checklist is aligned with the annexes of the Construction OHS Regulation. It should be completed by the occupational safety specialist or the designated site supervisor before each shift starts.

ID	Category	Inspection Item	OK/Fail	Action
1	PPE	Are all workers wearing hard hats?	☐	Distribute missing PPE
2	PPE	Are safety shoes (S3) being used?	☐	Replace
3	PPE	Are workers at height using harness/lanyard?	☐	Stop work, provide equipment
4	PPE	Are gloves appropriate for work type (cut-resistant, insulating)?	☐	Replace
5	PPE	Welding masks and goggles available for welding work?	☐	Supply
6	PPE	FFP2/FFP3 masks present in dust/fume-heavy areas?	☐	Replace filter
7	PPE	Earplugs/headphones used in noisy areas?	☐	Distribute
8	Heights	Are fall guardrails (parapets) 1 m high and sturdy?	☐	Reinforce
9	Heights	Are openings (elevator, shaft) covered/marked?	☐	Cover immediately
10	Heights	Safety nets installed for roof/facade work?	☐	Install net
11	Heights	Lanyard anchor points certified?	☐	Check certificate
12	Heights	Ladder used at correct angle (75 deg)?	☐	Train
13	Scaffold	Scaffold installation tag (green/red) up to date?	☐	Renew tag
14	Scaffold	Scaffold uprights fixed to ground (base plates)?	☐	Secure
15	Scaffold	No gaps on scaffold platforms (continuous flooring)?	☐	Complete
16	Scaffold	Scaffold side rails double-level (top + intermediate)?	☐	Add
17	Crane	Daily crane operator inspection completed?	☐	Fill form
18	Crane	Crane annual periodic inspection report current?	☐	Schedule inspection
19	Crane	Crane operator G-class certified?	☐	Verify certificate
20	Crane	Slings, ropes, hooks checked for wear?	☐	Replace
21	Electrical	Site distribution board locked and labeled?	☐	Lock/label
22	Electrical	RCD (30 mA) active, tested?	☐	Test/replace
23	Electrical	Grounding measurements performed (annual)?	☐	Schedule
24	Electrical	Extension cords insulated and raised?	☐	Organize
25	Electrical	No exposed conductors/cable ends?	☐	Insulate
26	Excavation	Excavation edges (1.5+ m) shored/sloped?	☐	Shore
27	Excavation	No spoil stacked within 1 m of edge?	☐	Move
28	Excavation	Ladder access to excavation present?	☐	Install ladder
29	Excavation	Underground utility survey with site supervisor?	☐	Bring plan
30	Fire	Fire extinguishers — service date valid?	☐	Refill
31	Fire	Fire extinguisher access unobstructed?	☐	Clear obstacle
32	Fire	Emergency exits open, marked?	☐	Mark
33	Fire	Flammable materials (paint, thinner) in separate storage?	☐	Segregate
34	Machinery	Heavy machinery operators certified (G operator)?	☐	Verify certificate
35	Machinery	Daily start-of-shift inspection form filled?	☐	Fill form
36	Machinery	Back-up alarm functioning?	☐	Repair
37	Signage	Warning signs at hazardous areas?	☐	Post sign
38	Signage	Pedestrian walkways marked (yellow/black)?	☐	Paint
39	Signage	Hazard class and PPE sign at site entrance?	☐	Post sign
40	Housekeeping	Construction waste collected regularly, no piles?	☐	Clean
41	Housekeeping	Protruding rebar tips capped (mushroom caps)?	☐	Cap
42	Housekeeping	Passageways unobstructed?	☐	Clear
43	First Aid	First aid kit full and up to date?	☐	Complete
44	First Aid	At least 1 certified first-aider on site?	☐	Train
45	Welfare	Toilet/sink clean and adequate (1 per 20)?	☐	Organize
46	Welfare	Separate, hygienic eating area?	☐	Organize
47	Environment	Dust suppression (water spray) operational?	☐	Activate
48	Environment	Adequate lighting (200 lux) at night work?	☐	Add lighting
49	Training	Daily tool-box talk (10 min) held?	☐	Hold meeting
50	Training	New worker orientation (8 hours) complete?	☐	Schedule

This 50-item list should be made mandatory in subcontractor agreements as well. We covered subcontractor OHS liability clauses in our Construction Contract Templates and Contractor Risk Management article.

Weekly Inspection Items (15 Items)

Weekly inspection is conducted personally by the occupational safety specialist and reviewed at the site OHS committee meeting. Here are 15 key items:

• Entire scaffold (load capacity, tie/connection joints, certified erector inspection)
• Crane main lifting elements (sling, rope wear)
• Electrical distribution board detailed insulation check
• Excavation slope/shoring stability check
• Fire suppression system (hose, hydrant) test
• Worker hard hat and PPE count/missing report
• Are emergency escape routes clear?
• First aid kit full set check
• Site general housekeeping (5S) inspection
• Gas measurement in confined spaces (if any)
• Routine maintenance records of heavy machinery
• Subcontractor OHS certificate validity
• Tool-box talk attendance records
• Closure of non-conformities from previous week
• OHS committee meeting minutes + action list

Monthly Risk Assessment (10 Items)

Monthly risk assessment is mandatory under Article 10 of Law 6331. In the very dangerous class, it must be reviewed at least once a month. Main topics:

1. Hazard inventory update: Creating hazard records for newly started manufacturing types
2. Risk score calculation: Probability x Severity matrix (5x5)
3. Control measures effectiveness test: Measuring the adequacy of existing measures
4. Analysis of OHS committee meeting minutes: Recurring non-conformities
5. Evaluation of near-miss records: Incidents that did not turn into accidents
6. Workplace accident root cause analysis: 5-Why analysis of previous month accidents
7. Training need identification: Planning special training for new hazards
8. PPE stock and replacement plan: Monthly consumption and next month forecast
9. Periodic inspection calendar update: Crane, elevator, pressure vessel, boiler, etc.
10. Worker health examination calendar: 6-month period for very dangerous jobs

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Inspection Details

PPE management is the foundation of the site OHS system. The PPE Regulation (CE-marked product requirement) and the OHS Law impose the obligation on the employer to provide PPE free of charge and provide usage training.

Mandatory PPE on site:

• Hard hat (EN 397): Mandatory for all workers; impact-resistant
• Safety shoes (EN ISO 20345 S3): Steel toe, puncture-resistant sole
• Reflective vest (EN ISO 20471 Class 2): Visibility
• Gloves (EN 388): Cut-resistant (mechanical) or EN 374 (chemical)
• Safety goggles (EN 166): Impact, splinter protection
• Hearing protection (EN 352): Mandatory in environments above 85 dB
• Respiratory mask (EN 149): FFP2/FFP3 for dust, A1/A2 for gas
• Fall arrest system (EN 361/EN 354): Lanyard + harness + anchor for work above 2 m

The PPE record book should contain information about which equipment was delivered to which worker on which date. The worker's signature should be obtained; this record is used as evidence in OHS inspections.

Working at Heights Safety

Approximately 42% of fatal construction accidents in Turkey are caused by falls from heights. Therefore, all work over 2 meters is considered "working at heights" and requires special precautions.

Mandatory precautions for working at heights:

• Collective protection priority: First parapet/guardrail/scaffold platform, then PPE
• Fall guardrail (parapet): 1 m top rail + 0.5 m intermediate rail + 15 cm toe board
• Safety net (EN 1263): Fall protection above 6 m in facade and roof work
• Lanyard system: Anchor point must withstand 22 kN dynamic load; must be certified
• Working at heights permit (Permit to Work): Issued at the start of each day, signed by the OHS specialist
• Worker training: 16-hour working at heights training certificate
• Health report: Balance/vertigo examination of personnel working at heights

Electrical Safety

Site electrical accidents account for 9% of fatal accidents. Special precautions are essential because temporary site electrical installations are riskier than permanent installations.

Site electrical safety requirements:

• Site distribution board (IP44 or above): Locked, labeled, unauthorized access prevented
• Residual current device (RCD/RCBO): 30 mA sensitivity; monthly test button trial
• Grounding: Annual measurement report (max 4 ohm); EMO-authorized electrical engineer approval
• Conductor cable specification: H07RN-F (rubber insulated) cable use on site
• Hand tools: Double-insulated (Class II) or 24V safe voltage
• Lighting: 24V or 110V, moisture-resistant
• Electrical project approval: Project approval for temporary installation
• High-voltage lines: Minimum safe distance to existing lines (4 m for 32 kV)

Crane and Scaffold Inspection

Cranes and scaffolds are considered the "heavy machinery group" of the site and require special periodic inspection.

Crane inspection:

• Annual periodic inspection: By A-type inspection bodies (AÇSHB-accredited)
• Daily operator check: 18-item form at start of shift (brakes, slings, ropes, limit switches, alarm)
• Operator certificate: G-class operator license (MYK Vocational Qualifications Authority)
• Wind limit: Generally above 15 m/s (varies by structure) work is stopped
• Overload control: Load limit indicator and overload shut-off system

Scaffold inspection:

• Erection certificate: Certified scaffold erector (5-day MYK training)
• Color-coded tag: Green (fit for use), red (unfit)
• Weekly inspection: Deformation, connection, guardrail check by authorized person
• Load limits: Light (75 kg/m²), normal (200 kg/m²), heavy (300 kg/m²) classification
• Ties: Structure tie/anchor connection every 4 m

AÇSHB Inspection: Frequently Encountered Fines

Approximate current administrative fines as of the 2026 update (in TL, updated annually based on revaluation rate):

Deficiency	Article	Fine (Approx.)
Risk assessment not performed	Law 6331 Art.10	35,000+ TL (recurring)
No occupational safety specialist	Law 6331 Art.6	25,000+ TL (monthly)
No occupational health (physician) service	Law 6331 Art.6	25,000+ TL (monthly)
No worker training certificate	Law 6331 Art.17	3,500+ TL (per worker)
PPE not provided	Law 6331 Art.5	3,500+ TL (per worker)
Working at heights without permit	Construction OHS Reg.	10,000+ TL (per finding)
No periodic inspection (crane, boiler)	Work Equipment Reg.	10,000+ TL (per item)
No OHS committee (50+ workers)	OHS Committees Reg.	8,000+ TL (monthly)
No emergency plan	Law 6331 Art.11	7,500+ TL
Accident reporting delayed	Law 6331 Art.14	8,500+ TL

Fines increase every year as of 2026 with the revaluation rate; the amounts above are approximate and exact amounts should be checked from AÇSHB current announcements. We covered the topic of Ministry inspection integration in our Şantiye-M 2026 software compatibility article.

Paper vs. Digital: Mobile OHS Form Advantages

Paper OHS forms suffer from loss, water damage, and incomplete filling in the busy pace of a construction site. Switching to mobile OHS forms reduces record gaps by up to 60%.

Mobile form advantages:

• Photo integration: Non-conformity photo is directly linked to the form
• GPS + timestamp: Proves at what point and when the inspection was made
• Automatic action tracking: Notification is sent to the responsible person, closure is tracked
• Instant notifications: Push notification to the OHS specialist for critical findings
• Audit trail: Who, when, what was changed — immutable record in inspection
• Trend analysis: Monthly recurring non-conformities reported automatically
• Offline operation: Form can be filled in site internet outages, syncs when connection comes back

When choosing a mobile OHS form, it is correct to prefer solutions that perform record security, KVKK compliance and data storage in Turkey. We covered software evaluation criteria in detail in our Construction Software Selection Criteria 2026 article.

Document Management with AECKraft

Important note: AECKraft does not have a built-in OHS module. A separate OHS software vendor (specialized OHS SaaS solutions) is needed for specific OHS functions such as OHS inspection, risk assessment, and mobile checklists.

However, AECKraft provides the infrastructure to support the following processes for OHS documentation management:

• Document management: OHS checklists, risk assessment reports, periodic inspection certificates are stored in one place in the AECKraft document module
• Photo archiving: Site photos and non-conformity evidence are archived per project with timestamps
• Mobile field application: AECKraft iOS/Android app allows field workers to upload documents and photos directly
• Audit trail / version control: Immutable logs of when and by whom a document was updated — high evidentiary value in inspection
• Role-based authorization: Different document access levels can be defined for OHS specialist, site supervisor, and subcontractor roles
• KVKK-compliant data storage: All data is on Turkey-based servers; special personal data such as worker health information is masked according to usage purpose
• Document date tracking: Manual reminder lists can be maintained for periodic inspection renewal dates

So AECKraft takes on the task of "storing documents to be presented as evidence in audits in a single location, with version control, and KVKK compliance." It is recommended to be used together with a separate OHS vendor solution for specific functions such as active OHS monitoring, mobile OHS checklist filling, or automatic reporting to the OHS committee.

For a demo, contact us via the contact page; for package details, see the pricing page.

Conclusion

The site OHS checklist is not just a bureaucratic form; it is a tool that saves lives, provides evidence in audits, and limits the contractor's legal liability. Approximately 700-800 construction workers die in workplace accidents in Turkey annually; a significant part of them can be prevented with a properly maintained daily checklist and disciplined application.

A 50-item daily checklist, 15-item weekly inspection, and 10-item monthly risk assessment form the OHS backbone of the site. When this backbone is supported by mobile and digital systems instead of paper, record gaps are minimized, an audit trail is created, and evidence is provided in favor of the contractor in inspection.

AÇSHB inspections will intensify even further in 2026; administrative fines at sites without risk assessment, without PPE supply, or without working-at-heights permits start at 10,000 TL and can cumulatively exceed 100,000 TL. This cost is dozens of times the cost of a well-established OHS system from the start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is keeping a daily OHS checklist a legal obligation?

Yes. Under Law 6331 on OHS and the Construction OHS Regulation, daily inspection records are required on construction sites. These records are requested in inspections; administrative fines are imposed if they are missing or never kept.

Who should fill out the OHS checklist?

It varies according to the site's hazard class. In the very dangerous class (construction), with at least a class C occupational safety specialist; daily inspections are performed by the OHS specialist or a site supervisor designated by them. Weekly and monthly inspections are performed personally by the OHS specialist.

From how many workers does the OHS specialist requirement begin?

In construction (very dangerous) works, the obligation to have an OHS specialist starts from 1 worker. For workplaces with fewer than 10 workers, this obligation can be met by procuring services from joint health and safety units (OSGB). The obligation to establish an OHS committee starts at 50 workers and above.

From how many meters is it considered "working at heights"?

In Turkish legislation, work above 2 meters is defined as "working at heights" and requires special precautions (parapet, net, lanyard, permit form). Collective protection (safety net) becomes mandatory for work above 6 m.

How often is the crane periodic inspection performed?

In Turkey, cranes must be inspected by A-type inspection bodies (accredited by AÇSHB) at least once a year. Daily operator check and weekly OHS specialist check are separate requirements. Operating an uninspected crane will result in 10,000+ TL fine and work stoppage sanctions.

Does the worker have to buy PPE?

No. Under Article 5 of the OHS Law, the obligation to provide PPE belongs to the employer. Deducting PPE fees or requesting PPE payment from workers is against the law and an administrative fine per worker is imposed.

Is the mobile OHS form valid in inspection like the paper form?

Yes. Digital records are as valid as paper records within the framework of the Electronic Signature Law and the Electronic Document legislation. In fact, digital records containing GPS, timestamp, photo and immutable audit trail have stronger evidentiary value in the inspection process.

Is the main contractor liable for the subcontractor's OHS deficiency?

Yes. Under Article 23 of Law 6331, if there are multiple employers in the same work area, the "main employer" (main contractor) is responsible for coordination on occupational health and safety. The main contractor may also have legal and criminal liability in an accident caused by the subcontractor's deficiency. For this reason, it is essential to add OHS responsibility clauses to contracts and conduct regular inspections.