Article 127 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 127 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
Article 127 defines the scope of the chapter on major industrial accidents, limiting its provisions to establishments with major hazards and no others.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تطبق أحكام هذا الفصل على المنشآت ذات المخاطر الكبرى .
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 127 explained in plain English
Article 127 of the Labor Law is a short introductory article, but an important one for understanding what follows; it sets the scope of application of the chapter on preventing major industrial accidents within Part Eight. The rule in it is clear: the provisions of this chapter do not apply to all employers, but only to a specific category, namely establishments with major hazards.
To know what this category means, reference must be made to Article 128, which defined the basic terms:
- An establishment with major hazards: an establishment that, permanently or temporarily, produces one or more hazardous substances, or prepares, disposes of, handles, uses or stores them, in quantities exceeding the permitted standards, so that this excess leads to its being included among establishments with major hazards.
- A hazardous substance: any substance or mixture of substances that poses a danger by virtue of its chemical, physical or toxic properties, whether on its own or with others.
- A major accident: a sudden accident such as a major leak, fire or explosion within an establishment with major hazards, involving one or more hazardous substances, and posing a greater danger to workers, the public or the environment, immediately or later.
In practical terms, this means that the special obligations in this chapter fall on establishments that produce, prepare, handle, use or store hazardous substances in quantities exceeding the permitted standards, and not on establishments that do not fall within this definition. The latter remain subject to the general occupational safety rules in Part Eight, including the employer's responsibility in Article 126 for compensating persons other than its workers who are injured because of neglect of the technical precautions.
Note that the text itself did not set the quantities or standards whose excess leads to an establishment being considered one with major hazards, so a person who needs to know whether their establishment is covered by this chapter is advised to consult the competent authority or a lawyer who specializes in labor matters.
Practical example
A company in Jubail owns a chemical products factory where it stores materials with toxic properties in quantities exceeding the permitted standards, so under Article 128 it is considered an establishment with major hazards, and the provisions of this chapter therefore apply to it under Article 127. By contrast, an engineering consultancy office belonging to the same company in Riyadh that does not deal with any hazardous substances is not subject to the provisions of this chapter, although it remains bound by the general occupational safety rules.
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 127 of the Saudi Labor Law
To whom do the provisions of the chapter on major industrial accidents in the Labor Law apply?
Under Article 127, the provisions of this chapter apply only to establishments with major hazards, which Article 128 defines as establishments that produce, store or deal with hazardous substances in quantities exceeding the permitted standards.
Are all factories subject to the provisions of this chapter?
No. The criterion is not that the establishment is a factory, but that it deals with one or more hazardous substances in quantities exceeding the permitted standards, as defined in Article 128. Establishments not covered remain subject to the general safety rules in Part Eight.
What is meant by a hazardous substance in the Labor Law?
Article 128 defined it as any substance or mixture of substances that poses a danger by virtue of its chemical, physical or toxic properties, whether on its own or in combination with others.
Does Article 127 specify the quantities that make an establishment one with major hazards?
No. The text refers to exceeding the permitted standards without stating figures, and to find out whether a particular establishment is covered, it is advisable to consult the competent authority or a lawyer who specializes in labor matters.
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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.