Article 128 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 128 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
Article 128 defines three key terms: an establishment with major hazards, a hazardous substance and a major accident, to set the scope of the provisions on preventing major industrial accidents.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تعني عبارة ( المنشأة ذات المخاطر الكبرى): المنشأة التي تقوم بشكل دائم أو مؤقت بإنتاج مادة أو أكثر من المواد الخطرة أو فئات من هذه المواد أو تجهيزها أو استبعادها أو مناولتها أو استخدامها أو تخزينها بكميات تتجاوز المعايير المسموح بها،والتي يؤدي تجاوزها إلى إدراج المنشأة في عداد منشآت المخاطر الكبرى.
2 - تعني عبارة ( مادة خطرة): أي مادة أو مزيج من المواد يشكل خطورة بحكم خواصه الكيماوية أو الفيزيائية أو السمية إما وحده أو في تركيب مع غيره.
3 - تعني عبارة ( حادث كبير): أي حادث فجائي مثل: التسرب الكبير، أو الحريق، أو الانفجار في مجرى نشاط داخل منشأة ذات مخاطر كبرى، ويتضمن مادة خطرة أو أكثر، ويؤدي إلى خطر أكبر على العمال أو الجمهور أو البيئة عاجلًا أو آجلًا.
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 128 explained in plain English
Article 128 sets out three basic definitions on which the chapter on preventing major industrial accidents in the Labor Law rests. It does not impose a direct obligation on anyone, but it determines the scope of application of the provisions that follow. Article 127 provided that the provisions of this chapter apply to "establishments with major hazards," so it was necessary to state what this phrase means and what is connected with it.
- An establishment with major hazards: an establishment that deals, permanently or temporarily, with one or more hazardous substances (or categories of these substances) by producing, preparing, disposing of, handling, using or storing them, in quantities exceeding the permitted standards. What matters is not the mere presence of the hazardous substance, but the quantity exceeding the set limit; it is this excess that brings the establishment among those 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 in combination with others.
- A major accident: any sudden accident, such as a major leak, fire or explosion, occurring in the course of an activity within an establishment with major hazards, involving one or more hazardous substances, and leading to a greater danger to workers, the public or the environment, whether its effect appears immediately or later.
Note that the article did not itself set the standards or quantities whose excess is considered dangerous, but left that to Article 129, which tasks the Ministry with setting the controls for identifying establishments with major hazards based on the list of hazardous substances, the categories of these substances, or both. To know whether a particular establishment is subject to this chapter, reference is made to those controls issued by the Ministry.
The importance of these definitions is practical: an employer to whose establishment these descriptions apply is subject to special preventive obligations set out in the following articles of this chapter, and workers, the public and the environment benefit from the protection it provides. A person who doubts whether the description applies to their establishment would do well to consult the Ministry's controls or a lawyer who specializes in labor cases.
Practical example
An industrial company in Jubail stores a flammable chemical in quantities exceeding the limit set by the Ministry's controls issued under Article 129; here the company is considered an "establishment with major hazards" and is subject to the provisions of this chapter under Article 127. If a sudden major leak occurs in one of its tanks that creates a danger to workers and neighboring residents, this is a "major accident" within the meaning of Article 128. By contrast, a small workshop in Riyadh that uses a limited amount of a chemical solvent not exceeding the permitted standards does not fall within this description, even though the substance itself is hazardous by nature.
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 128 of the Saudi Labor Law
What is meant by an establishment with major hazards in the Labor Law?
It is an establishment that, permanently or temporarily, produces, prepares, disposes of, handles, uses or stores one or more hazardous substances in quantities exceeding the permitted standards, and it is this excess that brings it among establishments with major hazards.
Is every establishment that deals with chemicals an establishment with major hazards?
No. Article 128 requires the quantities to exceed the permitted standards, and Article 129 tasks the Ministry with setting the controls for identifying these establishments based on the list of hazardous substances or their categories.
What is a major accident under Article 128?
It is any sudden accident, such as a major leak, fire or explosion, occurring during an activity within an establishment with major hazards and involving one or more hazardous substances, that leads to a greater danger to workers, the public or the environment, immediately or later.
What is the definition of a hazardous substance under the Saudi Labor Law?
It is 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.
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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.