المملكة: Urgent: Fines of up to 25 thousand… 5 categories excluded from the ban on working in the sun

The Ministry clarified that the exceptions include workers in the oil and gas sectors, emergency maintenance teams, and workers in the agricultural and grazing sectors.

Prohibition of working under the sun

It added that the exemption extends to sailors on ships with a capacity of less than 500 tons, and non-Saudi workers assigned to specific tasks not exceeding two months in duration.

The Ministry obligated employers to implement Eleven basic responsibilities to protect field workers.

It stressed the need to provide personal protective equipment such as headgear, assign trained supervisors to follow up on cases of heat stress, and provide devices to measure temperature and humidity.

Approved regulations

The approved regulations include providing continuous cold drinking water and organizing working hours to avoid extremely hot peak times.

The concerned authorities required ensuring sufficient rest periods for employees and conducting medical examinations to ensure their ability to withstand harsh climatic conditions.

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The Ministry stated that the ban is limited exclusively to field work that exposes the worker to direct sunlight without appropriate means of protection.

It warned that violating these regulations requires financial penalties ranging from a thousand riyals and up to 25 thousand riyals depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.

Preventive initiative

In the same context, the safety and risk management advisor, Dr. Muhammad Zamzami, confirmed to Al-Youm that this decision represents a preventive initiative that reflects Paying attention to the health of workers, explaining that these regulations establish the application of the best practices and standards for occupational safety and health.

He warned "Zamzam" Direct exposure to sunlight causes heat stress, dehydration, and sunstroke, which weakens the worker’s ability.

He pointed out that adhering to the ban periods creates a safe work environment and reduces health risks associated with hot climates.

Raising productivity rates

He pointed out that the impact of the decision goes beyond the health aspect to raise productivity rates and reduce occupational accidents resulting from fatigue and poor concentration. He called on employers to enhance prevention by providing shaded places, and implementing awareness programs to deal with emergency situations.

Zamzami concluded his speech by emphasizing that the success of the regulations requires the cooperation of all parties to establish a culture of occupational safety in the workplace.

He considered that these steps are consistent with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of life and protect people.