Occupational Safety and Health A right for every worker
Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy working environment that protects life, health and human dignity. Safety is not a privilege: it is an employer’s legal duty and a supervisory responsibility of the competent public authorities.
Prevention starts before an accident
Identifying, assessing and eliminating or reducing hazards is the foundation of worker protection.
What is occupational safety and health?
Occupational safety and health encompasses legislation, policies, procedures and preventive, technical and organisational measures to protect workers against hazards arising from or related to work.
It aims to prevent occupational injuries, accidents and diseases, protect workers’ physical and mental health, and provide safe and healthy working conditions.
Occupational safety extends beyond factories and construction sites to all workplaces, including offices, shops, industrial and service facilities, farms, workshops, quarries and transport.
Injury is not a normal part of work
Most hazards can be prevented or reduced through planning, training, supervision and preventive measures.
Safety is a shared responsibility
Protecting workers requires complementary action by workers, employers and competent public authorities.
You have the right to work safely
- A safe and healthy working environment.
- Information about hazards associated with your work.
- Training and guidance.
- Appropriate protective equipment.
- The ability to report hazards and unsafe working conditions.
- First aid and care when needed.
Protection before work begins
- Assess workplace risks.
- Eliminate or reduce hazards.
- Provide protective equipment at no cost to workers.
- Train workers to carry out tasks safely.
- Provide first aid and emergency plans.
- Monitor the safety of equipment, machinery and premises.
Supervision, inspection and enforcement
- Establish legislation and standards.
- Inspect workplaces.
- Receive reports and complaints.
- Identify breaches and hazards.
- Require establishments to correct breaches.
- Take legal action when necessary.
The law protects your right to safety
Addresses personal protection, prevention of occupational hazards and diseases, health requirements, first aid and medical examinations.
Requires establishments to issue occupational safety and health instructions in accordance with applicable legislation.
Workers must not bear costs or wage deductions for the provision of occupational safety and health measures.
Hazards workers may face at work
Workers may face several hazards at once. The cards give non-exhaustive examples of sectors where each hazard is prominent. Actual risk depends on the task, materials, equipment and working environment.
Physical hazards
Noise, heat, cold, vibration, lighting and radiation.
Chemical hazards
Gases, vapours, dust, solvents and toxic substances.
Biological hazards
Bacteria, viruses, fungi and biological agents.
Mechanical hazards
Machinery, cutting, falls, excavations and heavy equipment.
Electrical hazards
Exposed wiring, unsafe installations and electric shock.
Fire and explosion
Fuels, gases, flammable materials and heat sources.
Ergonomic hazards
Lifting loads, repetitive movements and unsuitable working postures.
Psychosocial hazards
Work pressure, stress, violence, harassment and excessive working hours.
How can hazards be prevented before injury occurs?
Identify hazards
Examine the workplace, equipment, materials and how tasks are performed.
Assess the level of risk
Assess the likelihood of harm and who may be exposed.
Eliminate hazards
Always prioritise removing the source of danger wherever possible.
Reduce exposure
Use engineering and organisational controls.
Protective equipment
Provide suitable equipment as part of an overall protection system.
Continuous review
Review risks, investigate accidents and prevent recurrence.
What must employers provide?
Asking workers to be careful is not enough. Employers must provide an effective prevention and protection system.
The Ministry of Labour’s responsibility to protect workers
Labour inspection is a key means of overseeing compliance with labour law and occupational safety and health requirements within establishments.
Inspecting establishments
Monitor compliance with labour law and related regulations.
Identifying breaches
Examine working conditions, equipment and protective measures.
Receiving complaints
Follow up reports about working conditions and safety.
Eliminate hazards
Issue instructions to address hazards and breaches.
Children are more vulnerable to workplace hazards
Under Article 14 of Palestinian Child Law No. 7 of 2004, as amended by Article 4 of Decree-Law No. 19 of 2012, children must not be employed before reaching 15 full years of age; that is, their fifteenth birthday, subject to the Labour Law and its implementing regulations.
Those under 18 remain protected by the Child Law. They must not perform hazardous work or work that disrupts education or harms their safety or physical or mental health, including work for first-degree relatives.
Read Article 4 amending Article 14 of the Child Law ↗
Protecting children from hazardous work is linked to their rights to health, education and healthy development.
If you notice a workplace hazard
Do not ignore the hazard
Identify its source and the potential harm.
Notify the person responsible
Tell your supervisor or employer about the unsafe condition.
Document the situation
Keep information, photographs and details when it is safe to do so.
Ask for help
Contact the Observatory for appropriate assistance.
Your life and health are not the price of work
If you face unsafe working conditions, have questions about your rights or have experienced a labour violation, the Observatory provides three contact channels.
Submit a complaint
If you wish to submit a complaint about your labour rights.
Request a legal consultation
For clarification or advice on a labour right or legal situation.
Report a violation
To report a labour violation or a situation requiring monitoring and documentation.
Occupational safety and health links
Explore guidance, activities and legislation from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions and the Ministry of Labour.
Occupational Safety and Health Department
Guidance and awareness materials on workplace hazards and prevention.
Visit the page ↗ Palestinian General Federation of Trade UnionsOccupational safety news and activities
Campaigns, workshops and field visits promoting workers’ safety.
Browse activities ↗ Palestinian Ministry of LabourNational Centre for Occupational Safety and Health
Risks by sector, legislation, publications and training programmes.
Visit the centre ↗Monitoring risks for better protection
The Palestinian Labour Rights Observatory promotes workers’ awareness of their right to a safe and healthy working environment and monitors violations and risks related to working conditions.
It collects data and information on violations and occupational injuries, provides consultations, and supports policies and procedures that strengthen worker protection in Palestine.