Article 18 of the Saudi Labor Inspection Implementing Regulations
المادة 18 من اللائحة التنفيذية لضبط أعمال تفتيش العمل وتنظيمها · الفصل الخامس: قواعد التفتيش وإجراءاته
Article 18 makes inspection of an establishment the job of one inspector unless the director assigns more, and allows help from health and safety specialists of other ministries if the office has none.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
أ - يقوم بتفتيش العمل في كل منشأة مفتش عمل واحد مالم يرَ مدير مكتب العمل تكليف مفتشين اثنين أو أكثر للاشتراك في تفتيش منشأة واحدة .
ب - إذا لم يكن هناك مفتشون مختصون بنواحي الصحة والسلامة في مكتب العمل، فيجوز لمكتب العمل الاستعانة بخبرة المختصين في الوزارات الأخرى أو فروعها في المناطق ، وكذلك طلب تزويدهم بالإرشادات اللازمة من وزارة العمل.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 18 explained in plain English
This article deals with two matters:
1. The number of inspectors in an establishment:
- The rule is that labor inspection in each establishment is carried out by one inspector.
- The director of the labor office may assign two or more inspectors to take part in inspecting a single establishment if he sees fit.
2. Health and safety expertise:
- If the labor office has no inspectors specialized in health and safety, it may use the expertise of specialists in other ministries or their regional branches.
- It may also request that they be provided with the necessary guidance by the Ministry of Labor.
The article does not specify when the director sees fit to assign more than one inspector, as that is left to his discretion, and it does not specify which ministries are to be used. The aim is that inspection, particularly in health and safety, has the technical expertise it needs, which is consistent with Article 16, which pays attention to establishments with dangerous operations.
If you have a question about an inspection visit to your establishment, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in labor cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 18 of the Saudi Labor Inspection Implementing Regulations
How many inspectors inspect one establishment?
The rule is one inspector, unless the director of the labor office decides to assign two or more.
What does the labor office do if it has no safety specialist?
It may use the expertise of specialists in other ministries or their regional branches, and request the necessary guidance from the Ministry of Labor.
More articles on Organizing Inspection Visits
- Article 13
Article 13 regulates inspection visits during working hours through weekly programs prepared in advance by the head of inspection and approved by the office director, and sets the basis for assigning establishments, the program's contents and visit timing.
ينظم رئيس تفتيش العمل في كل مكتب زيارات التفتيش الجارية أثناء ساعات الدوام الرسمي بموجب برامج أسبوعية مسبقة يصادق عليها مدير المكتب المسؤول، وتعد وفقاً للأسس ال
- Article 14
Article 14 provides that labor inspection outside official working hours is carried out under written instructions and orders from the head of inspection, stating the establishments, the inspection times and the names of the inspectors.
يكون تفتيش العمل خارج أوقات الدوام الرسمي وفقاً للتعليمات الخطية وأوامر رئيس تفتيش العمل في كل مكتب، ويجب أن تتضمن هذه الأوامر أسماء المنشآت المطلوب تفتيشها، وأ
- Article 15
Article 15 requires inspectors assigned to inspection outside official working hours to submit their reports on the results to their superiors on the day after the inspection.
يجب على المفتشين الذين كلفوا بالتفتيش خارج أوقات الدوام الرسمي تقديم تقاريرهم بنتائج التفتيش إلى رؤسائهم في اليوم التالي لإجرائه.
- Article 16
Article 16 requires intensifying inspection visits, especially to establishments that are unsatisfactory in protecting workers' health and safety or where dangerous operations take place, and returning early when a serious breach is found.
يجب تكثيف الزيارات التفتيشية على أماكن العمل ، وذلك بالدقة التي يتطلبها تنفيذ الأحكام النظامية، مع الاهتمام بزيارة المنشآت التي تكون إداراتها غير مرضية من ناحية
- Article 17
Article 17 requires inspection in general periodic visits to cover all work conditions and terms without being limited to one aspect, with the inspector visiting the whole establishment.
يجب أن يكون التفتيش في الزيارات الدورية المخصصة لأغراض التفتيش العام شاملاً لجميع أوضاع العمل وشروطه وأحواله في المنشأة الجاري تفتيش العمل فيها ، ولا يجوز اقتصا
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.

