Power line workers defy safety

A crew of workers climbing over the loader of a bulldozer to remove the lines from an electricity pole astounded onlookers as the workers ignored work safety.

The crew working for a subcontractor tasked with removing the lines in the Silifke district of the southern city of Mersin casually climbed over the loader in the absence of a special crane with an elevator used in power line repairs.

Workers were only equipped with hardhats and gloves and worked for hours without the necessary safety belts to prevent them from falling from the 10-meter pole. They downplayed the risk and said they were used to "working in dangerous situations."

Although Turkey has high standards of work safety, negligence is common. Workers working on high scaffolding without safety belts, especially at construction sites, are a common sight in the country.