Article 124 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 124 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
Article 124 requires the worker to use the protective means designated for their work, look after them and follow safety instructions, and bars any act or omission that disables or misuses these means.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على العامل أن يستعمل الوسائل الوقائية المخصصة لكل عملية، وأن يحافظ عليها، وأن ينفذ التعليمات الموضوعة للمحافظة على صحته ووقايته من الإصابات والأمراض. وعليه أن يمتنع عن ارتكاب أي فعل أو تقصير يتسبب عنه عدم تنفيذ التعليمات، أو إساءة استعمال الوسائل المعدة لحماية مقر العمل وصحة العمال المشتغلين معه وسلامتهم أو تعطيلها.
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 124 explained in plain English
Article 124 of the Labor Law sets out the other side of the occupational safety equation. If Article 123 requires the employer to inform the worker of the hazards of their occupation, provide personal protective equipment and train them in its use, Article 124 requires the worker themselves to benefit from these means and actually comply with them, because safety is not achieved by providing equipment alone.
What must the worker do?
- Use the protective means designated for each operation: that is, the helmet, gloves, goggles, safety harness or anything else designated for the work they perform, and not merely rely on their presence at the work site.
- Look after them: so they do not damage them, neglect them or leave them in a condition in which they are not fit for use.
- Carry out the instructions set to preserve their health and protect them from injuries and diseases, such as operating instructions, safety procedures and fire-prevention instructions posted in a visible place under Article 125.
What must they refrain from?
- Any act or omission that results in safety instructions not being carried out.
- Misusing the means intended to protect the workplace and the health and safety of their fellow workers.
- Disabling these means, such as switching off an alarm device or removing a guard from a machine.
Note that the article widens the scope of the obligation to include protecting the workplace and the workers working with them, not only their own personal safety; a worker's negligence may expose others to danger.
This article itself does not specify a particular penalty for violating it, but creates a statutory obligation on the worker. A person who faces a dispute with the employer over responsibility for an injury or accident because of an alleged violation of this article is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in labor cases to assess their position.
Practical example
Ahmed works as a cutting machine operator at a factory in Dammam. The company supplied him with protective goggles and gloves, trained him in using them, and posted safety instructions next to the machine as Article 123 requires. One day Ahmed removed the protective cover from the machine to work faster and left the goggles in his locker. Ahmed has thus violated Article 124 in two ways: he did not use the protective means designated for his work, and he disabled a means intended to protect the workplace and the safety of his colleagues. Had the company not provided these means at all or not trained him in them, the breach would lie on the employer's side under Article 123.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 124 of the Saudi Labor Law
Can a worker refuse to use protective equipment if it hinders their work?
No. Article 124 requires the worker to use the protective means designated for each operation and to carry out the instructions set for their protection, and does not permit them to refrain from them on the pretext of speed of completion or comfort.
What is the difference between the worker's obligations in Article 124 and the employer's in Article 123?
Article 123 requires the employer to inform the worker of the hazards of their occupation, provide personal protective equipment and train them in it, whereas Article 124 requires the worker to use this equipment, look after it, carry out safety instructions and not disable it.
Does Article 124 cover the safety of other workers or only the worker's own?
It covers both; the text prohibits the worker from misusing or disabling the means intended to protect the workplace and the health and safety of the workers working with them, in addition to protecting themselves from injuries and diseases.
Does Article 124 provide a penalty for a violating worker?
The article itself contains no specific penalty; it provides an obligation on the worker to use protective means, carry out instructions and refrain from disabling them.
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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.