Vahdet Deniz Akçaoğlu, a member of the Ethics Committee of the Compliance Association, states that regulatory compliance is not just a legal obligation but also an ethical and social responsibility.
Two years have passed since the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, yet the pain of the lives we lost remains in our hearts. On this occasion, I commemorate with mercy those who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake of February 6, 2023, and in the fire that occurred in Bolu Kartalkaya on January 21, 2025, and extend my condolences and patience to their families.
The fire at Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Center has once again underscored the critical importance of compliance in disaster and emergency management. According to official statements, 78 people lost their lives, and many others were injured in this tragic event. Investigations by authorities into the causes of the fire and the safety measures in place are still ongoing.
Such incidents highlight the necessity of fully implementing safety measures in high-risk areas such as tourism facilities. Inadequate preventive measures or insufficient oversight in inspection processes can significantly increase risks and worsen consequences. Ensuring full compliance with disaster
management regulations and maintaining strict adherence to national and international fire safety standards is of utmost importance. Taking proactive safety measures, conducting rigorous inspections, and developing risk management policies through public-private sector collaboration can help prevent potential loss of life.
In disaster and emergency management, compliance is not a choice it is an essential requirement for protecting human life.
Compliance in Organizations for Disaster and Emergency Management
Compliance refers to the complete adherence of businesses and organizations to the legal regulations, technical standards, and ethical rules in the sector in which they operate. In particular, regarding disaster and emergency management, compliance with regulations requires facilities to take proactive measures against fire, earthquakes, floods, and other disaster risks and to establish effective intervention mechanisms in crisis situations.
The compliance function in businesses does not merely aim to fulfill legal obligations; it also serves as a mechanism that identifies risks in advance, prevents potential violations, and enhances the resilience of organizations against crises. From a disaster management perspective, ensuring effective regulatory compliance requires following these fundamental steps:
Compliance with Regulations and Standards: Businesses must fully monitor all legal regulations and international standards related to fire safety, disaster planning, and occupational health and safety (e.g., NFPA 1600 - Standard on Continuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management) and implement updates accordingly, making necessary investments.
Risk Assessment and Preventive Measures: Potential disaster risks should not be determined only theoretically; detailed risk analyses should be conducted by considering the physical structure, location, and environmental factors of the facility. Automatic fire suppression systems, emergency evacuation routes, and smoke ventilation mechanisms should be fully operational and regularly tested based on emergency scenarios.
Training and Drills: All personnel must develop disaster awareness and be trained to instinctively take the correct actions in a crisis. Emergency scenario-based drills should be conducted not just as a procedural requirement but under realistic conditions to improve preparedness.
Inspections and Continuous Improvement: Independent inspections should not be conducted merely as periodic formalities; their results must be swiftly evaluated, and deficiencies must be immediately addressed. Compliance inspections should not be a paper-based formality but should drive organizations to continuously enhance their safety measures.
The Importance of Compliance: No Room for Negligence, Safety Comes First!
Compliance is not only about fulfilling legal obligations but also about protecting an organization’s reputation, ensuring business continuity, and, most importantly, safeguarding human life. Ensuring full compliance with regulations is particularly crucial in high-risk areas such as tourism facilities, as it is directly related to the protection of human life.
Hospitality establishments are not merely commercial enterprises providing accommodation services; they are also responsible for ensuring the safety of their guests. The Law on the Protection of Consumers No. 6502 aims to ensure the reliability of the services provided by protecting consumers' health and safety. Article 1 of this law mandates the implement of measures to protect consumer health, safety, and economic interests in line with the public good.
Compliance is not only a legal obligation but also an ethical and social responsibility. All stakeholders—government, the private sector, and individuals—must work together to build a disaster-resilient society and foster a strong culture of safety.
Additionally, under the Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 (TCO), particularly in the section on obligations arising from torts, individuals who cause harm through faulty or unlawful acts are required to compensate for the damages. Article 576 of the TCO explicitly states that hospitality businesses are responsible for the safety of their guests’ belongings and for maintaining a secure environment overall.
In terms of fire safety, it is of great importance that accommodation facilities comply with the applicable standards. In this context, maintaining up-to-date emergency exit plans, ensuring regular maintenance of fire alarm and suppression systems, and informing guests about potential emergency situations are among the fundamental requirements. While investigations by the relevant authorities will determine the causes of the incident and clarify responsibilities, it is essential to remember that full compliance with regulations in disaster management plays a critical role in minimizing risks and preventing loss of life.
Human life is the highest priority, and implementing safety measures without compromise is not only a legal requirement but also an ethical responsibility.
Lack of Inspections Leads to Disaster: Compliance Must Be Ensured!
Deficiencies in inspections can pose serious risks in disaster and emergency management. Therefore, the effective implementation of safety measures and full compliance with relevant regulations are of great importance. Tourism facilities, especially ski resorts, hotels, and holiday villages, involve high-risk factors. Due to heavy human traffic, heating systems that pose fire hazards, and limited evacuation options, inspection processes must be carried out with great precision.
Inspection mechanisms must go beyond being a mere procedural formality on paper and be transformed into a system that genuinely ensures safety. Businesses should be given a specific timeframe to correct identified deficiencies; however, if necessary improvements are not made, the evaluations of relevant authorities should form the basis for enforcement actions.
Ensuring that inspection processes are transparent and continuously improvable is a critical requirement for the safety of both businesses and guests. In this context, compliance is not just a legal obligation but also a fundamental element of a sustainable safety culture.
Conclusion: Compliance Saves Lives, Negligence Costs Lives!
The tragedy at Kartalkaya has once again demonstrated that full compliance with disaster and emergency management regulations is not merely a legal obligation but a vital necessity for protecting human life. Such incidents highlight not only the inadequacy of safety measures but also the severe consequences of ineffective inspection processes and weak risk management practices.
To prevent disasters and accidents, merely fulfilling legal requirements on paper is not enough. Inspection mechanisms must function effectively, employees must receive continuous training, and disaster awareness must be promoted across society. It must be clearly understood that non-compliance with regulations does not only lead to economic losses; the greatest cost is the irreversible loss of human life.
The Kartalkaya fire should not be considered as an isolated event caused solely by the shortcomings of a particular facility. Instead, it should be recognized as a critical example that underscores the necessity of a holistic approach to risk management and disaster safety. This incident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities, businesses, and society, emphasizing the need for a robust regulatory enforcement mechanism. Strict adherence to national and international standards, continuous risk assessment, and the implementation of preventive safety measures must be prioritized.
Compliance is not only a legal obligation but also an ethical and social responsibility. All stakeholders—government, the private sector, and individuals—must work together to build a disaster-resilient society and foster a strong culture of safety. Fire and emergency management should shift from a reactive approach to a proactive one, ensuring that risk assessments are regularly updated and stringent inspections are conducted.
Finally, it must never be forgotten that human life is the most valuable asset, and no negligence, oversight, or failure to take necessary precautions should ever come at its expense.
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