• Based on the principles and objectives of the national occupational health and safety policy issued byCouncil of Ministers decision No. (328) dated 13-06-1442Hto apply the principle of prevention directly related to the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the physical, mental, and social health of workers, and to assess and prevent risks from their sources to reduce occupational injuries and diseases through the development of legislation, systems, regulations, programs, and any regulatory tools, and based on the powers and competencies of the National Occupational Health and Safety Council as stated inArticle (Third) of the Council's Statuteissued byCouncil of Ministers decision No. (379) dated 07-07-1443H, and in accordance with the provisions of ArticlesOne Hundred and Thirty-One bis, andOne Hundred and Forty-Three, andOne Hundred and Eighty-Seven of the Labor Lawissued byRoyal Decree No. (M/51) dated 23-08-1426Hand its amendments, and related to the obligation to conduct medical examinations, this regulation has been prepared in cooperation with governmental bodies and authorities and in consultation with representatives of employers and workers, in accordance with the best local and global standards and practices for occupational fitness medical examinations with the requirements of the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, to clarify the mechanisms related to occupational fitness medical examinations for all professions in the Saudi labor market, with the aim of monitoring and following up on individuals' health, and enhancing occupational health through pre-employment examination and periodic examination of workers, which contributes to reducing work accidents and occupational diseases and improving work environments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The words and terms mentioned below, wherever they appear in this regulation, shall have the meanings indicated opposite each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:
- Regulation: The National Regulation for Occupational Fitness Examinations.
- Council: National Occupational Health and Safety Council.
- Minister: Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
- First Official: Minister, Governor or CEO, President Director, or Supervising Trustee, or their equivalent.
- Employer: Any natural or legal person who employs one or more workers for a wage or delegates them in private sector establishments.
- Employee: Any natural person, male or female, who works for the benefit of an employer and under their management or supervision for a wage, even if they are far from their supervision.
- Civil Servant: Anyone who holds a public civil position in the state or performs its duties regardless of the nature of their work or job title, whether by appointment or contract on a permanent or temporary basis.
- Establishment: Any project managed by a natural or legal person, employing one or more workers, for a wage of any kind.
- Occupational Fitness: The individual is qualified to perform the required professional and job tasks effectively, without endangering their health or the safety of others, including physical, mental, and psychological fitness.
- Occupational Health and Safety: Protecting the worker/employee from any work-related hazard that poses a threat to their safety or health, including physical, mental, and social health.
- Monitoring Occupational Fitness: Determining changes in health status due to engaging in activities and tasks that lead to exposure to certain materials at the workplace, through a specialist in occupational medicine.
- Occupational Medical Examination: Investigative surveys and clinical examination for the purpose of preventing occupational diseases.
- Occupational Physician: A physician specialized in Occupational Medicine, a branch of medicine concerned with the health and safety of workers in workplaces, aiming to prevent, diagnose, and treat work-related diseases and injuries.
- Occupational Disease: A disease that arises due to work in professions or economic activities that cause this disease, not attributed to factors outside of work, provided that this disease is listed in the schedule of occupational diseases specified therein exclusively.
- Profession: A job or occupation performed by an individual regularly, requiring specialized skills and knowledge acquired through education or training, aiming to provide a specific service or work for a wage or income.
- Entity: Any ministry, government agency, authority, department, public institution, fund, or equivalent, and any independent body with a public legal personality.
- High-Risk Professions and Work Environments: Professions where individuals may be exposed, permanently or partially, depending on the duration and frequency of exposure, while performing work tasks to high-risk activities and operations, such as construction sites or working in transport services or handling high-risk materials like chemicals or ionizing radiation, increasing the likelihood of occupational disease or accidents that may cause death or result in severe injuries or disability.
- Preventive Measures: All preventive measures implemented to reduce expected risks and losses.

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

  • 1- Reducing work injuries, accidents, and occupational diseases.

  • 2- Enhancing the physical and psychological fitness of employees/workers.

  • 3- Ensuring the ability of employees/workers to perform their tasks safely and efficiently.

  • 4- Defining the mechanism for pre-employment and periodic medical examinations for practitioners of high-risk professions.

  • 5- Standardizing the medical examination forms for pre-employment, periodic, and exceptional examinations that suit each profession and providing comprehensive databases on the health status of all employees/workers.

  • 6- Improving compliance with local standards and regulations and international agreements in the field of occupational safety and health.

1- This regulation applies to all employees and workers in public entities, private sector establishments, and the non-profit sector as follows:
A. New candidates before appointment.
B. Employees/workers currently employed in the following cases:
1. After the occurrence of an occupational injury.
2. Upon returning from a long medical leave.
3. When there are doubts about the worker's/employee's ability to perform their job.
4. If the job/profession requires periodic medical examination according to the approved forms and annexes of this regulation.
5. In case of a change in the worker's/employee's profession.
6. In case of a change in the work environment.
7. In case of using new equipment, machines, or devices.
C. Upon retirement from work in case of exposure to materials with a long latency period during the work period, such as asbestos.

• 2- This regulation does not apply to medical examinations outside the scope of the job/profession.

• Employees and workers are obligated to the following:

  • 1- Conduct professional fitness examinations as required by the entity or establishment, in accordance with the requirements of this regulation and according to the approved models and the profession they will practice, and respond to its requirements in coordination with the employer.

  • 2- Declare symptoms, injuries, and occupational diseases and provide any necessary health information according to the approved model.

  • 3- Notify the entity or the owner of the establishment or their representative of any activities or defects that may affect their safety or the safety of others around them.

  • 4- Report to the relevant authorities any violations by establishments in implementing the requirements of the regulation.

• The model for the professional fitness examination of the worker/employee is selected according to the following criteria:

  • 1- Actual work.

  • 2- Job description.

  • 3- The type of materials or physical, chemical, or biological factors to which he is exposed.

  • 4- The method of exposure to the materials.

  • 5- The level of exposure to the materials or physical, chemical, or biological factors.

  • 6- The duration of exposure to the materials or physical, chemical, or biological factors.

  • 7- The application of preventive measures and the availability of special equipment that complies with the standard specifications issued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization regarding occupational safety and health to reduce exposure to materials according to related regulations and monitor harmful health effects.

• The use of occupational fitness examination may not be substituted for the implementation of effective individual and collective control measures except in the following cases:

  • 1- To determine the effectiveness of control measures specific to occupational practitioners (assessment of exposure levels).

  • 2- To apply new, more effective control measures if necessary.

• The types of medical examinations for professional fitness are as follows:

• 1- General medical examination:
  A. Evaluation of vital functions.
  B. Examination of chronic diseases.

• 2- Additional specialized examination according to the nature of the profession in accordance with the approved models.

• 3- Psychological examination to ensure mental and psychological health.

• The mechanism for conducting examinations is as follows:

  • 1- Pre-employment/appointment medical examination: This examination is conducted for all job/profession candidates and includes an analysis of medical history and exposure to occupational conditions, according to the approved forms based on the nature of the profession/job.

  • 2- Periodic medical examination: Conducted at regular intervals according to the requirements of each profession/job, and the type and level of health risks exposed to. These periodic examinations may be legally "restricted" such as work in aviation, diving, food manufacturing and services, firefighting, carrying weapons, and handling explosives and radioactive materials, among others.

  • 3- Exceptional medical examination: Conducted in emergency situations such as an accident, noticeable change in performance, or when the specialist doctor observes early signs of specific occupational diseases or the presence of a group of similar cases resulting from potential exposure to toxic substances.