Occupational Health and Safety

Ziraat Bank implements OHS practices in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, primarily Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331. OHS processes are addressed through a risk-based approach via the Bank's OHS Policy to support safe and healthy working conditions throughout the Bank. In this context, the Bank focuses on identifying potential risks and hazards in the workplace at an early stage and planning and implementing the necessary measures against these risks in a timely manner, in line with a proactive (preventive) approach. Accordingly, the aim is to improve OHS performance through training, awareness, monitoring, and continuous improvement efforts.

OHS services and workplace medical services are provided within the Bank to protect the well-being of its employees. Employees' health expenses are covered through the Health Assistance Fund and the T.C. Ziraat Bankası and T. Halk Bankası Members Pension and Relief Fund Foundation. These practices contribute to supporting the physical and psychological well-being of employees.

Occupational Health and Safety Committee

An Occupational Health and Safety Committee has been established in the General Directorate units of Ziraat Bank with fifty or more employees to support the implementation of OHS activities in compliance with legislation. The Committee continues its work with the participation of relevant management representatives acting as employer representatives, occupational safety experts, workplace physicians, representatives of units responsible for administrative and financial processes, and employee representatives. The Committee is positioned as the fundamental structure supporting decision-making processes related to the planning, monitoring, and coordinated implementation of OHS activities throughout the Bank.

In line with the Bank's classification as a low-risk workplace, Committee meetings are held every three months. Meeting agendas are prioritized based on current needs, issues encountered, and any OSH projects being implemented. Follow-up on previous period decisions and current OSH topics are evaluated at the meetings. In addition, new issues arising during the meetings are included in the agenda, and necessary actions are determined.

Decisions and recommendations made within the Committee are shaped by considering the Bank's current capabilities and needs; guidance is provided in line with legislation to increase the effectiveness of OSH practices and ensure they are carried out in a sustainable manner. Thanks to representation at the senior management level, the Board's decisions are addressed in line with the corporate culture and contribute to the determination of strategic and analytical actions for priority needs.

OHS Policy

Ziraat Bank's OHS Policy defines the fundamental principles and implementation guidelines that support the execution of OHS practices across the Bank under a common framework. This framework contributes to determining the duties, authorities, responsibilities, rights, and obligations of employers and employees in the context of ensuring OHS in the workplace and improving existing health and safety conditions. The objectives and priorities of the policy are to protect the health of employees, support the prevention of occupational accidents, contribute to the reduction of occupational diseases, and guide processes aimed at developing safe working conditions.

Within the scope of the OHS Policy, the aim is to promote safe working habits and continuously improve OHS practices. In this context, the Bank aims to contribute to the creation of a sustainable work environment by ensuring compliance with legislation, supporting work efficiency, and strengthening corporate reputation and trust. The Bank adopts a proactive approach in its OHS practices, guided by the principle of “Occupational Health and Safety First” In the processes related to the implementation of the policy, the goal is to strengthen the culture of safety; compliance with OHS rules by employees is as important as the reflection of safe behaviors in daily work practices. Safety culture is associated with the importance employees place on safety and their level of commitment to OHS practices; it is understood that this approach is not limited to rules and procedures but also reflects employee attitudes, exemplary behavior by managers, and the organization's values regarding safety. In this context, the aim is to disseminate OHS practices throughout the corporate structure through management support, encouraging employee participation, and conducting regular training programs.

The scope of the OHS Policy includes not only Bank employees but also subcontractor/supplier company employees and visitors to Bank locations, thus aiming to address OHS processes with a sense of shared responsibility among all stakeholders. Communication activities are utilized to ensure the adoption of the policy throughout the Bank and the widespread implementation of practices; participation mechanisms are supported through digital channels where employees can report risks they identify in the field or submit suggestions for improvement. In this context, OHS training is provided, digital communication systems are used, and employee participation in the process is encouraged through applications such as an accessible OHS survey in a digital environment where employees can report risks. In this way, the aim is to contribute to the management of potential risks before they escalate by recording and evaluating feedback from the field.

Ziraat Bank's primary goal in the field of OHS is to prevent work accidents and occupational diseases before they occur. In this regard, OHS systems and practices are reviewed at regular intervals, and the “zero accident” and “zero occupational disease” goals are supported by efforts to raise employee awareness.

In order to effectively carry out OHS services, Ziraat Bank strengthens its corporate organizational structure in certain locations and supports OHS processes with relevant expert staff. In this context, an OHS unit consisting of occupational safety experts and workplace physicians has been established to coordinate OHS practices in the Istanbul Financial Center and Ankara Ulus buildings.

To fulfill OHS obligations in branch and regional structures, the Bank utilizes outsourced OHS services. OHS professionals assigned within the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Unit (JHSU) contribute to the monitoring of the Bank's OHS practices in the field. In this context, the relevant teams conduct periodic visits to branch and regional units throughout the year to carry out field inspections and support the planning of necessary actions by the relevant units based on the findings identified. Nonconformities identified in the risk assessment reports prepared during the visits are shared with the relevant unit managers; the aim is to complete the necessary actions within the specified schedule and responsibilities. During subsequent field visits, the improvement steps implemented are checked, and the continuity of efforts to eliminate risks is monitored.

As part of the Bank's health surveillance practices, occupational health services are provided on a full-time basis at the Istanbul Financial Center and Ankara Ulus buildings. In other units, occupational health services are organized through external service providers, and regular visits are made to the relevant locations at specific intervals throughout the year. The examinations of employees whose periodic health check-ups are due are carried out by occupational physicians. In addition, field visits include assessments of workplace ergonomics, occupational hygiene, and general working conditions from a health perspective. These efforts aim to protect employee health, improve ergonomic conditions, and support preventive measures to avoid potential workplace accidents and occupational diseases.

In 2025, work was carried out to support the implementation of OHS practices in different locations of the Bank. In this context, emergency response teams were formed at the Istanbul Financial Center, and training was planned to develop the competencies of the relevant teams; e-learning  assignments were carried out for employees. Risk assessment and analysis studies were carried out periodically, and field observations were conducted. OHS practices were monitored at centers and various service points (such as the Money Group Center). OHS Committee meetings were held every three months to discuss improvement agendas. Audits and monitoring of OHS practices at subcontractors and supplier companies have also continued. In addition, a software-based monitoring infrastructure (perspective) has been implemented to enable more effective monitoring of OHS processes; applications supporting the monitoring of OHS activities carried out at locations outside the General Directorate (such as branches, regional headquarters, etc.) have been supported.

Prioritizing increased access to financial services, Ziraat Bank implements its barrier-free banking approach holistically through both physical and digital channels. The Bank is the only bank offering ATM services at 159 locations nationwide; it serves orthopedically disabled customers with 253 ATMs and visually impaired customers with 7,001 ATMs. Braille directional labels are placed at all customer touchpoints used in ATMs. Headphone jacks and voice menu applications are offered for visually impaired customers.

To support this infrastructure, personnel working at the Video Call Center receive in-class sign language training in accordance with the Regulation on Remote Identity Verification Methods to be Used by Banks and the Establishment of Contractual Relationships in Electronic Environments. Employees are assigned e-learning programs on Approaches to Disability and Sign Language. Along with these applications, efforts are ongoing to develop accessibility solutions and improve service quality under the leadership of the Banks Association of Türkiye, based on customer feedback.

OHS Training

OHS training at Ziraat Bank is conducted with the aim of raising employee awareness of potential risks in the workplace and developing safe working habits. These training programs contribute to the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, while also supporting the strengthening of safety culture and the widespread adoption of protective practices in the workplace.

The basic OHS training implemented at the Bank is structured under four main training components: general topics, health topics, technical content, and various supporting topics. In line with the Bank's classification as a low-risk workplace, basic OHS training is planned to be conducted at least once every three years, for a minimum of eight hours, covering all employees; participation in training is ensured regardless of job title or position. Training programs are monitored and implemented taking into account the minimum duration and frequency of repetition. In addition, optional additional content is offered to employees through the Banking School Online Training Portal; employees are supported in increasing their knowledge in areas they need with training modules adapted to different risk levels. Furthermore, new employees receive information on OHS measures appropriate to their job description, the equipment to be used, and workplace conditions before they actually start work. Employees who have been away from work for a certain period of time are provided with refresher training before returning to work.

The assignment and monitoring processes related to OHS training are carried out by the Banking School and Talent Management Department in accordance with Law No. 6331 and relevant secondary regulations; the completion status of the training is monitored regularly.

By the end of the 2025 reporting period, a total of 31,083 hours of online OHS training had been completed with the participation of 1,242 employees within the Bank. In addition, 2,590 employees hold first aid certificates approved by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health.

Emergency and Evacuation

Work carried out at Ziraat Bank in preparation for possible emergencies is structured within the framework of the Emergency Plan. Under this plan, emergencies that may occur at the Bank are defined, and preventive and restrictive measures are determined to mitigate the negative effects of emergencies. In addition, processes such as the formation of task forces, the definition of emergency response and evacuation methods, the preparation of relevant documentation, and the planning of drills are handled in a systematic manner.

In line with the Emergency Situations Regulation, the Bank aims to assign a sufficient number of employees in necessary areas, primarily firefighting, protection, and rescue, in order to strengthen its emergency response capacity. In this context, the objectives are to enable quick and effective action in emergency situations, reduce the risks to which employees may be exposed, and support business continuity.

In the General Management buildings, emergency teams are determined for each floor, primarily on a voluntary basis; the competencies of employees serving in firefighting, protection, rescue, and first aid teams are developed through face-to-face training provided by the Banking School and Talent Management Department. In line with this, as part of the measures taken against fire risk at the Istanbul Financial Center campus, firefighting equipment has been positioned on the tower and podium floors, and a total of 923 fire extinguishers are kept in the relevant areas. In branch and regional management offices, the formation of emergency response teams and training processes are carried out and monitored through the external service provider JHSU.

Risk Assessment

At Ziraat Bank, risk assessment activities within the scope of OHS are carried out to identify hazards that exist in the work environment or may arise from external sources and to analyze the effects these hazards may have on employees and the workplace. Within this scope, risks are assessed by considering the potential loss, injury, or similar adverse consequences that hazards may cause, and the results obtained are reported and recorded.

In risk assessment processes, various risk factors, primarily physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, and ergonomic hazards, are addressed in accordance with the provisions of the legislation. The reviews cover a wide range of topics, from general working conditions to emergency and evacuation preparedness, from work equipment control processes to fire safety systems, from electrical safety to cleaning and hygiene practices, to health surveillance and ergonomics. After analyzing the risks, control measures are determined and corrective/preventive actions are planned. The responsibilities and implementation schedule for the determined measures are defined; after implementation, changes in the risk level are monitored with the aim of reducing or eliminating risks. The actions included in the reports prepared by OHS professionals are shared with the relevant units, and the necessary applications are ensured.

Risk assessment studies conducted in branch and regional structures also include ergonomics-related risks. In this context, actions to address identified nonconformities are followed up by the relevant unit managers. Office ergonomics training is provided to employees to raise ergonomic awareness; furthermore, ergonomics criteria are taken into account in the procurement of office equipment to support appropriate working conditions.

Periodic Inspection of Work Equipment

Periodic inspections of work equipment used within the Bank are carried out by authorized and accredited organizations within the scope of services provided by the General Management. Maintenance, repair, and modification work necessary to improve work equipment found to be unsuitable for use as a result of these inspections is carried out without delay. This ensures that the equipment is safe and compliant with regulations. Following the completion of the relevant corrective actions, the periodic inspection processes for work equipment are carried out again.

Tracking of Work Accidents

At Ziraat Bank, recording and tracking processes are carried out to monitor work accidents and plan the necessary corrective steps. In this context, work accidents occurring within the Bank are included in the relevant follow-up mechanism; incidents intervened by the health unit are recorded and shared with occupational safety units. This aims to monitor and evaluate data related to work accidents. In addition, SSI notification processes are carried out within the specified timeframes for work accidents, in line with relevant legislation and reporting requirements.

Root cause analysis studies are conducted for incidents to prevent the recurrence of occupational accidents. In this process, not only the apparent causes of the accident are evaluated, but also the fundamental factors that led to the incident; the goal is to develop permanent solutions that will prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Subcontractor Monitoring

Ziraat Bank carries out work to monitor and control OHS processes related to subcontractors through external service providers in order to support the effective implementation of OHS practices in its branch and regional structures. In this context, OHS professionals audit the obligations that subcontractors must fulfill under the legislation; key areas such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in field applications, the suitability of safety data sheets (SDS), and the training and health monitoring of employees are checked.

Within the scope of the services received from the JHSU for branch and regional management, the OHS obligations of subcontractors are regularly audited, and necessary actions are taken regarding any non-compliance. During these activities, the PPE used by employees is examined, material SDS are checked, and the fulfillment of training and health obligations is evaluated. These activities contribute to strengthening OHS awareness and safety culture throughout the Bank, thereby supporting the creation of a safer working environment.

Environmental Measurements

Measurements related to the working environment were carried out at the IFC campus in 2023. At the Money Group Centers, environmental measurement processes covering noise, dust, lighting, and thermal comfort were initiated in 2025.

Istanbul Financial Center OHS Practices

Detailed information regarding the OHS practices carried out at Ziraat Bank's Istanbul Financial Center campus in 2025 is provided below.

• A demo evacuation drill was conducted on the 17th and 16th floors as part of the Evacuation Plan. Work continues with the firm Etik Mühendislik for other floors and the entire IFC.
• An IFC Health Services Unit has been established and provides services to the Bank and all its affiliates.
• OHS assignments have been made to external companies, and their work is being monitored in accordance with Law No. 6331.
• Ambulance contracts have been signed for Bank employees and affiliates in case of emergencies, and service procurement has begun.
• The Bank's OHS software has been actively implemented for OHP workplace physicians, and occupational safety experts.
• The Bank has prepared training videos as part of the IFC campus evacuation program, and they are expected to be assigned to the entire IFC campus.
• Emergency evacuation plans for Tower-2 have been completed. They have been completed for the entire IFC campus.
• Field work is being carried out under Law No. 6331, and risk assessment reports are kept up to date.
• Environmental measurements for Tower-1, which were carried out in 2023 and are valid for 6 years, have also been completed for Tower-2.