Hundreds of workers at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant construction site in Mersin province in southwest Turkey contracted food poisoning on 13 and 14 September, leading to at least 250 being hospitalised. The communications service of Akkuyu Nuclear Corporation reported that 925 workers had received medical treatment and 126 had been sent to Silifke State Hospital. However, one of the workers affected, identified only as O.O., contradicted these figures, claiming that at least 6,000 workers had suffered food poisoning but that they had been sent back to work after being treated in the site’s sick room.
Workers have long complained about the quality and condition of the food served at the site. Comments on the company’s social media account include complaints about foreign bodies in the food and lack of hygiene.
The incident has raised questions about the health and safety protocols in place during the construction phase of the nuclear facility. Akkuyu Nuclear Corporation has stated that its health and safety experts are conducting inspections at food distribution points and that health personnel are working overtime to this end. The company also stressed that none of the workers affected were seriously ill. The corporation, which is a Russian company, stated that the food services at the facility are provided by Turkish subcontractors.
Taner Foods, the catering company responsible for the provision of meals, has previously received contracts from public institutions and companies known for their proximity to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). It has been awarded contracts from various state institutions, including Turkey’s student accommodation agency and the Defence Ministry. Questions have arisen about whether the company has faced any sanctions following similar incidents in student cafeterias and military barracks.
According to the worker O.O., employees at the contruction site operate on an 8-hour shift system and have to queue for everything, including toilets and meals. They said that there are at least 30,000 workers employed at the construction site, and revealed that Russian and other foreigners present at the site did not consume the meals that led to the poisoning.
The incident has led to concerns about other potential safety breaches that might occur during emergencies, when safety protocols might be neglected, leading to immediate and cascading safety and security issues. These could range from contamination and tampering with equipment to long-term issues like deferred maintenance and erosion of the culture of safety.
