Article 143 of the Saudi Labor Law
المادة 143 من نظام العمل · الباب الثامن: الوقاية من مخاطر العمل والوقاية من الحوادث الصناعية الكبرى وإصابات العمل والخدمات الصحية والاجتماعية
The article requires the employer to have workers exposed to occupational diseases examined comprehensively at least once a year and to record the results in its records and the workers' files.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كل صاحب عمل أن يعهد إلى طبيب أو أكثر بفحص عماله المعرضين لاحتمال الإصابة بأحد الأمراض المهنية المحددة في جداول الأمراض المهنية- المنصوص عليها في نظام التأمينات الاجتماعية- فحصًا شاملًا مرة كل سنة على الأقل، وأن يثبت نتيجة ذلك الفحص في سجلاته، وكذلك في ملفات أولئك العمال.
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 143 explained in plain English
Article 143 of the Labor Law imposes a specific preventive obligation on every employer toward a certain category of workers, namely workers exposed to the possibility of contracting an occupational disease. The article does not leave the identification of these diseases to the employer's judgment, but refers to the occupational disease tables provided for in the Social Insurance Law, which are the reference for what counts as an occupational disease.
The obligation has three elements:
- Assigning one or more physicians to examine these workers; the examination must be carried out by a physician, not by anyone else.
- The examination must be comprehensive and carried out at least once a year; this is a minimum, so the employer may do it more frequently.
- Recording the examination result in the employer's records, and also in the file of each worker who underwent the examination.
The practical purpose of this documentation is to have a continuous medical record that allows early detection of occupational disease and provides written evidence of the worker's health over his years of work, which may be important to the worker if an injury or a later claim arises.
This article is part of an integrated set of provisions in Part Eight: Article 142 requires the employer to provide a first aid cabinet, and Article 144 requires it to provide preventive and curative health care at the levels determined by the Minister, with regard to the Cooperative Health Insurance Law. Article 143 is the periodic preventive element dedicated to the workers most exposed to risk.
Note that the article does not expressly say who bears the cost of the examination, but it places the whole obligation on the employer as a duty. The article also does not set the details or components of the examination; these are matters to be decided by the assigned physician and by the competent authorities. If a worker works in an environment with occupational hazards and has not undergone any periodic examination, it is appropriate to consult a lawyer specialized in labor cases to learn the available options.
Practical example
Ahmed works in a chemical plant in Jubail and deals every day with substances that fall within the occupational disease tables of the Social Insurance Law. Under Article 143, the plant must assign a physician to conduct a comprehensive examination of Ahmed and his colleagues exposed to the same risks at least once a year, and then record the examination results in the plant's records and in Ahmed's personal file. Three years later, when Ahmed developed respiratory symptoms, the physician was able to compare his current results with the earlier examinations documented in his file, which helped diagnose his condition early.
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 143 of the Saudi Labor Law
Which workers are covered by the periodic medical examination under Article 143?
Workers exposed to the possibility of contracting one of the occupational diseases specified in the occupational disease tables provided for in the Social Insurance Law. The article does not cover all workers, but specifically this category.
How often must workers exposed to occupational diseases be examined?
At least once a year. The examination must be comprehensive and carried out by one or more physicians assigned by the employer. The phrase "at least" means this is a minimum that can be exceeded.
Is the employer required to document the medical examination results?
Yes. The article requires the employer to record the examination result in its records and also in the files of the workers who underwent it.
How does Article 143 relate to Articles 142 and 144 of the Labor Law?
The three articles regulate the employer's health obligations: Article 142 concerns the first aid cabinet, Article 143 concerns periodic examination of workers exposed to occupational diseases, and Article 144 concerns providing preventive and curative health care at the levels determined by the Minister.
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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.