Article 125 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 125 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
Article 125 requires the employer to take fire-prevention precautions, provide firefighting means, keep escape exits usable at all times, and post detailed fire-prevention instructions in a visible place.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على صاحب العمل أن يتخذ الاحتياطات اللازمة للوقاية من الحريق، وتهيئة الوسائل الفنية لمكافحته، بما في ذلك تأمين منافذ للنجاة، وجعلها صالحة للاستعمال في أي وقت، وأن يعلق في مكان ظاهر من أماكن العمل تعليمات مفصلة بشأن وسائل منع الحريق.
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 125 explained in plain English
Article 125 of the Labor Law places on the employer direct responsibility for protecting the workplace and the people in it from the danger of fire. It is one of the articles of Part Eight on the prevention of work hazards, and does not leave the matter to the employer's discretion, but sets four clear obligations:
- Taking the necessary precautions to prevent fire: that is, everything that prevents a fire from breaking out in the first place.
- Preparing the technical means to fight it: providing firefighting tools and equipment should a fire occur.
- Providing escape exits and keeping them usable at any time: it is not enough that exits exist, since they must remain open, unblocked and usable at all times.
- Posting detailed instructions on fire-prevention means in a visible place: so that workers can see them easily and know how to act.
Note that the article speaks of workplaces in general without singling out a particular type of establishment, so the obligation covers factories, offices, shops and others, though the scale of precautions varies with the nature of the activity.
This article is completed by those around it: Article 124 sets the corresponding obligation on the worker, who must use the protective means, look after them, carry out the instructions set, and not misuse or disable the means of protecting the workplace. As for Article 126, it extends the employer's responsibility to persons other than its workers who enter the workplace by virtue of their jobs or with its consent, so that if they are injured because the technical precautions that the type of work requires were neglected, it must compensate them under the general laws.
In practice, if a worker notices that an emergency exit is closed or blocked with goods, or that the workplace lacks firefighting equipment or visible fire-prevention instructions, that is a breach of an express statutory obligation on the employer, and the worker can draw attention to it and ask for it to be corrected. If harm occurs, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in labor cases to assess the situation.
Practical example
Noura works at a warehouse belonging to a company in Dammam. She noticed that the rear emergency door has been blocked by stacked boxes for weeks, that the fire extinguishers hung on the walls have expired, and that there is no board of instructions about what to do in a fire. Under Article 125, the company must keep the escape exit usable at all times, prepare the means of fighting fire, and post detailed instructions in a visible place. Noura is therefore entitled to alert the warehouse management to remove the boxes, renew the equipment and post the instructions, and in return she and her colleagues must, under Article 124, comply with those instructions and not disable the protective means.
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 125 of the Saudi Labor Law
What are the employer's obligations regarding fire under Article 125 of the Labor Law?
It must take the necessary fire-prevention precautions, prepare the technical means to fight fire, provide escape exits that are usable at any time, and post detailed instructions on fire-prevention means in a visible place in the workplace.
Is it enough that there are emergency exits in the workplace?
No. The article requires escape exits to be usable at any time, meaning they must remain open, unblocked and always ready for use, not merely exist.
What if a visitor or contractor is injured at the workplace in a fire caused by neglect of precautions?
Article 126 provides that the employer is responsible for accidents that affect persons other than its workers who enter the workplace by virtue of their job or with its consent, if they are due to neglect of the technical precautions that the type of its work requires, and it must compensate them under the general laws.
Does the worker have a corresponding obligation regarding fire prevention?
Yes. Article 124 requires the worker to use the protective means, look after them and carry out the instructions set, and bars them from misusing or disabling the means of protecting the workplace.
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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.