Workplace Safety in KSA: New OHS Rules Employers Must Follow

Saudi Arabia's workplace fatalities have dropped 70.6% over the past six years. The fatality rate went from 3.828 to 1.12 per 100,000 workers, placing the Kingdom among the lowest globally. Work-related injuries fell 30.7% in the same period.

This did not happen by accident. NCOSH overhauled occupational health and safety regulations, ramped up enforcement, and introduced new frameworks in 2025 that every employer must follow.

The Midday Work Ban

Parameter	Requirement
Period	June 15 to September 15 (annually)
Hours	12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Scope	All outdoor work under direct sunlight
Applies to	All private-sector establishments
Enforced by	MHRSD and NCOSH

What counts as a violation

• Any worker performing tasks under direct sunlight during the banned hours
• Workers on construction sites, road works, agricultural land, or any outdoor environment
• Workers on building rooftops or in unshaded areas

Exemptions

The ban does not apply to:

• Emergency repair work (utilities, oil spills, critical infrastructure)
• Workers in shaded areas or indoor environments
• Work performed in air-conditioned enclosures, even if the enclosure is outdoors

What you must do during the ban period

• Reschedule outdoor work to before 12:00 PM or after 3:00 PM
• Provide shaded rest areas with water and cooling
• Adjust shift schedules to maximize productivity outside the ban window
• Post visible notices about the ban in Arabic and your workforce's primary languages
• Train supervisors to recognize heat stress symptoms

Enforcement

NCOSH conducted more than 411,000 supervisory visits in Q1 2025 alone. Inspectors patrol construction sites, industrial zones, and agricultural areas during the ban period. Each worker found working in violation is a separate offense at SAR 3,000 per violation.

The Occupational Fitness Regulation (November 2025)

Saudi Arabia introduced the Occupational Fitness and Non-Communicable Diseases Examinations Regulation in November 2025. It is one of the most comprehensive workplace health screening systems in the region.

What it requires

Employees in high-risk roles must undergo periodic occupational fitness examinations covering:

• Physical fitness for specific job requirements
• Screening for non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic)
• Hearing and vision assessments for relevant roles
• Mental fitness evaluations for safety-critical positions

Who is covered

• High-risk occupations (construction, mining, oil and gas, manufacturing)
• Heavy machinery operators
• Workers exposed to hazardous substances
• Safety-critical roles (drivers, crane operators, confined space workers)
• Workers at height

What you must do

• Arrange and pay for occupational fitness examinations
• Maintain records of all examinations
• Act on medical recommendations (role reassignment, workplace modifications)
• Do not discriminate based on medical findings. The regulation requires reasonable accommodation where possible.

High-Risk Occupation Framework

MHRSD introduced a licensing and accreditation framework for organizations and individuals involved in OHS for high-risk environments.

Two qualification pathways

Pathway	Description	Requirements
Professional Track	Safety professionals who design and manage OHS programs	Relevant degree + professional certification + experience
Practitioner Track	Field-level practitioners who implement OHS measures	Technical qualification + practical training + supervised experience

What this means for you

• OHS personnel in your organization must hold the appropriate qualification level
• External OHS consultants and auditors must be licensed under this framework
• Training programs must meet the new accreditation standards

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Employer responsibilities

Obligation	Details
Provision	Provide all required PPE free of charge
Quality	PPE must meet SASO or equivalent international standards
Training	Train workers on proper PPE use, maintenance, and limitations
Replacement	Replace damaged or worn PPE immediately at no cost to the worker
Enforcement	Ensure workers actually use PPE. Provision alone is not sufficient.
Records	Maintain records of PPE issuance, training, and replacement

PPE requirements by sector

Sector	Minimum PPE
Construction	Hard hat, safety boots, high-visibility vest, gloves, eye protection, fall protection (for heights)
Oil and gas	Fire-resistant clothing, gas detection equipment, respiratory protection, safety boots, hard hat
Manufacturing	Eye protection, hearing protection (if noise >85 dB), gloves, safety footwear
Chemical handling	Chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, apron, respiratory protection, emergency shower access
Electrical work	Insulated gloves, arc flash protection, insulated footwear, voltage detectors

Updated Penalty Framework

The 2025 labor law amendments raised penalties significantly.

Financial penalties

Violation Category	Fine Range
Failure to provide safe working conditions	SAR 5,000 - SAR 25,000 per violation
Midday work ban violation	SAR 3,000 per worker per incident
PPE non-compliance	SAR 5,000 - SAR 15,000
Failure to report workplace accidents	SAR 10,000 - SAR 50,000
Repeat violations (within 12 months)	Fines doubled
Violation resulting in worker death	Up to SAR 100,000 + potential criminal liability

Non-financial consequences

• Temporary or permanent suspension of business activities
• Work permit freezes
• Public listing on MHRSD violation registry
• Criminal prosecution for negligence resulting in death or serious injury

The Role of NCOSH

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health coordinates workplace safety across Saudi Arabia.

What NCOSH does

• Policy development: Sets national OHS standards and regulations
• Enforcement oversight: Coordinates inspections across government agencies
• Data collection: Maintains the national database of workplace incidents
• International alignment: Aligns Saudi standards with ILO and international best practices
• Training standards: Sets qualification requirements for OHS professionals

Track record

NCOSH was nominated for the ORP Recognition 2025, an international occupational risk prevention award. The reduction in fatality rates from 3.828 to 1.12 per 100,000 workers is one of the sharpest declines in the region.

Workplace Accident Reporting

Reporting timeline

Incident Type	Reporting Deadline	Report To
Fatal accident	Immediately (within hours)	NCOSH, MHRSD, Police
Serious injury	Within 24 hours	NCOSH, MHRSD
Minor injury requiring medical treatment	Within 72 hours	GOSI
Near-miss incidents	Internal reporting within 48 hours	Internal safety records
Occupational illness diagnosis	Within 7 days	GOSI, MHRSD

What to include in a report

• Date, time, and exact location
• Description of what happened
• Name and Iqama/ID of the affected worker(s)
• Injuries sustained and medical treatment provided
• Immediate corrective actions taken
• Root cause analysis (for serious incidents)
• Witness statements

Building an OHS Compliance Program

Your program needs these eight components:

1. Written safety policy signed by senior management, communicated to all employees.

2. Risk assessment for every work area and role. Document risks and control measures. Review annually or after any incident.

3. Safety training for all employees upon hire and at regular intervals, in a language each worker understands.

4. Emergency procedures: evacuation plans, fire response, first aid protocols, and emergency contact lists posted in all work areas.

5. Incident investigation for every accident and near-miss to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

6. Safety committee with worker representation (required for 50+ employees).

7. Regular inspections: monthly internal safety audits, quarterly comprehensive reviews.

8. Record keeping for all training, inspections, incident reports, PPE issuance, and medical examinations. Minimum retention: 5 years.

Heat Stress Management Beyond the Midday Ban

The midday ban covers peak exposure. Effective OHS requires year-round heat stress prevention.

Best practices

• Hydration stations: Cold drinking water within easy reach of all outdoor workers, year-round
• Acclimatization programs: Gradually introduce new workers and those returning from extended leave to hot environments over 7-14 days
• Work-rest cycles: Implement rotating cycles during hot months, even outside the ban period
• Buddy system: Pair workers in extreme heat so they can monitor each other for heat stress symptoms
• Emergency cooling: Keep cooling stations, ice packs, and emergency protocols ready for heat-related illness

Recognizing heat stress

Train supervisors and workers to spot these symptoms:

• Heavy sweating followed by cessation of sweating (a danger sign)
• Confusion, dizziness, or slurred speech
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rapid heartbeat
• Hot, red, dry skin

Any of these require immediate medical attention. Do not allow the worker to "rest it off."

Compliance Checklist

• Written safety policy is current and communicated to all employees
• Risk assessments are documented for all work areas
• Midday work ban schedule is posted and enforced (June 15 - September 15)
• PPE is provided free of charge and meets SASO/international standards
• PPE training records are maintained for all employees
• Occupational fitness examinations are scheduled for high-risk roles
• OHS personnel hold required qualifications under the new framework
• Accident reporting procedures are documented and staff are trained on them
• Emergency evacuation plans are posted and drilled regularly
• GOSI registration is active for all employees (occupational hazard coverage)
• Heat stress prevention measures are in place year-round
• Safety committee is established (if 50+ employees)
• Internal safety audits are conducted monthly

Key Takeaways

• Saudi Arabia achieved a 70.6% reduction in workplace fatalities over six years
• The midday work ban (12 PM - 3 PM, June 15 - September 15) carries SAR 3,000 fines per worker per incident
• The Occupational Fitness Regulation (November 2025) requires medical screening for high-risk roles
• PPE must be provided free and meet recognized quality standards
• Fines range from SAR 3,000 to SAR 100,000, with criminal liability for fatal negligence
• NCOSH conducted 411,000+ inspections in Q1 2025. Enforcement is aggressive and expanding.
• Build your OHS program around policy, risk assessment, training, PPE, incident reporting, and regular audits