In line with the principles and objectives of the National Occupational Safety and Health Policy issued by Cabinet Decision No. 328 dated 13/06/1442 AH, aimed at assessing and preventing hazards to reduce occupational injuries and diseases through the development of legislation, regulations, technical guidelines, programs, and any applicable organizational tools, and based on the powers and responsibilities of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health as outlined in Article (3) of the Council's regulation issued by Cabinet Decision No. 379 dated 07/07/1443 AH, and in accordance with the amended Labor Law under Royal Decree No. (M/5) dated 07/01/1442 AH, labor laws are fundamental in defining and regulating the relationship between workers and employers to protect rights.

In line with what is stated in the law in Article 131 (repeated), Article 143, and Article 187 of the Labor Law regarding the mandatory medical examinations, this regulation hasbeen prepared in cooperation with government agencies and in consultation with representatives of employers and workers, applying the best local and international standards and practices for medical fitness examinations in accordance with the requirements of the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, to clarify the mechanisms related to medical fitness examinations for all professions in the Saudi labor market. This aims to monitor and follow up on individuals' health to enhance occupational health through pre-placement and periodic examinations for workers, thereby contributing to reducing workplace accidents and occupational diseases and improving working environments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This regulation aims to provide a comprehensive framework for assessing the health and psychological fitness of employees/workers to ensure that they are able to perform their job duties efficiently and safely in line with national standards and best international practices, which are the following:

• 1. Reduction of work injuries and accidents and occupational diseases.

• 2. Enhance the physical and psychological fitness of employees/employees.

• 3. Ensure that employees/employees are able to perform their tasks safely and efficiently

• 4. Introducing the mechanism of pre-appointment/employment medical examinations and periodicity for high-risk practitioners.

• 5. Unify pre-appointment/employment medical examination forms, periodic examination and exceptional examination that suit each profession and provide comprehensive databases on the health status of all employees/employees.

• 6. Improve compliance with local standards and regulations and international conventions in the field of occupational safety and health.

1. The provisions of this regulation shall apply to all employees in public entities, private sector establishments, and non-profit organizations, regardless of the type of contractual relationship or the nature of work, and include permanent employees, temporary or seasonal contract workers, trainees, people with disabilities, and workers under the remote work system, in any of the following cases:

• A. Before the start of the employment relationship when applying for employment, and it is required to pass the medical examination of occupational fitness before completing the appointment.

• B. Employees on the job in the following cases:

  • o After an occupational injury

  • o Upon return from a long medical leave

  • o When there are doubts about the ability of the worker / employee to perform his work

  • o If the job / profession requires a periodic medical examination in accordance with the approved forms attached to this regulation.

  • o Upon a change of occupation, if the worker/employee is transferred to a position or occupation that requires a different type of medical examination, additional tests shall be conducted in accordance with the approved examination forms set out in the Appendix to this Regulation.

  • o In the event of a change in the work environment, including but not limited to the permanent or temporary assignment of the worker.

  • o If new equipment, machines or devices are used.

• C. Upon retirement from work in case of exposure to materials with a long latency period during the period of work, such as asbestos or ionizing radiation.

• 2. The application of this regulation does not apply to medical examinations outside the scope of the job/profession.

The first official in government agencies / civil public sector and the employer in private and non-profit sector establishments (or their delegates) shall comply with the following:

• 1. Verifying and ensuring that occupational fitness examinations are conducted and following up on his employees according to the approved forms and professions specified for them and making the necessary arrangements to enable the worker / employee to do so.

• 2. Provide the necessary resources to conduct examinations for its employees.

• 3. Notify the doctor specialized in occupational medicine of any exposures or risks that may affect the safety and health of the worker/employee during the practice of work, and the employer must refer the worker/employee to the competent doctor to ensure his health fitness.

• 4. Ensure that the worker receives appropriate health monitoring of health and safety risks to which he is exposed at work.

• 5. Work on creating health records within the standards of the Personal Data Protection System that include various documents containing the professional medical history of the worker/employee in his workplace, assessing risks and exposures in the workplace, and sharing them with relevant parties through the means approved by the Board.

• 6. Support compliance with the provisions of the Regulation.

• 7. Take all procedures and measures to organize work in accordance with the requirements of the regulation.

• 8. Do what is necessary to find alternative work if the worker's job is medically prohibited, considering the following cases:

  • A. In the event of changes in the employee's health status or a new development in medical restrictions, the employer must reconsider the alternative work provided and update it in proportion to the health status to ensure the employee's success in the new job while maintaining his health and safety.

  • B. If the worker/employee is unable to fully perform alternative work tasks due to medical restrictions, the employer must provide the necessary adjustments to the working conditions, such as flexible working hours, part-time or any other arrangements to ensure that the employee continues in a safe and appropriate environment.

  • C. If an employee's health condition improves over time and they are able to return to their original employment, the employer must conduct a comprehensive assessment that includes a fitness check to restore the employee's original job in line with their current health condition.

Employees and employees are committed to the following:

• 1. Undergo the occupational fitness examinations required by the employer, in accordance with the requirements of this regulation, the approved forms, the nature of the profession under assignment, and in coordination with the concerned authority within the establishment.

• 2. Disclosure of occupational symptoms, injuries and diseases and providing any necessary health information according to the approved form.

• 3. Immediately notify the employer or his representative of any risks, defects or practices that may affect his safety or the safety of those around him within the work environment.

• 4. Inform the competent authorities of any fundamental violations committed by the establishment related to non-implementation of the requirements of this regulation, whenever this is proven to the worker and affects occupational safety and health.

Any employee or worker may submit a report to the competent authorities regarding any violations committed by the entity or establishment related to the non-implementation of the requirements of this Regulation.

The occupational fitness examination form for the worker/employee is selected according to the following criteria:

• 1. Actual work.

• 2. Job description.

• 3. The physical, chemical, or biological substances hazards to which they are exposed.

• 4. The mechanism of exposure.

• 5. The level of exposure to physical, chemical, or biological substances or factors.

• 6. Duration of exposure to physical, chemical, or biological substances or factors.

• 7. Applying preventive measures and providing special equipment conforming to the standard specifications issued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization regarding occupational safety and health to reduce exposure to materials in accordance with the relevant regulations and monitor adverse health effects.

The occupational fitness examination may not be used as a substitute for the implementation of individual or collective hierarchy of controls, and it is prohibited to rely on it as the sole basis for protecting the worker, except for the following cases:

• 1. Use the results of the examination to assess the effectiveness of control measures applied to practitioners, by measuring occupational exposure levels.

• 2. Use the results of the examination to support the decision to apply new or more effective preventive measures, whenever necessary, and the employer remains responsible for ensuring a safe working environment, regardless of the results of occupational fitness examinations. In all cases, the principle of gradual risk control shall be applied, so that engineering and administrative measures, isolation and ventilation techniques, and protective equipment are provided over medical or control means, considering medical examination as a means of monitoring, not prevention.