Must an employer in Azerbaijan appoint a safety professional or an occupational physician?

Yes, depending on size. Under Article 223 of the Labour Code, an employer with more than 50 workers must set up an OSH service with an OSH engineer; above 500 workers a deputy head for OSH is added, and above 1,000 workers an occupational hygiene doctor and an industrial sanitary laboratory. Below 50 workers, OSH work is given to a trained worker or, failing that, to an OSH specialist post (rule in force since 16 January 2026).

Short answer

• Fewer than 50 workers: OSH duties are added, with the worker's consent and a contract change, to the job of a worker with OSH knowledge; if that is not possible, the employer creates an OSH specialist post (Art. 223.2-1, added by Law No. 332-VIIQD of 30 December 2025, in force 16 January 2026).
• More than 50: an OSH service (əməyin mühafizəsi xidməti) with an OSH engineer; this also applies to individuals who employ more than 50 workers.
• More than 500: also a deputy head of the enterprise (or deputy chief engineer) for OSH.
• More than 1,000: also an industrial sanitary laboratory and an occupational hygiene doctor (əməyin gigiyenası üzrə həkim).
• Exactly 50: the text speaks of "more than 50" and "fewer than 50", so confirm with the labour inspectorate.

The staircase in Article 223

Unlike Türkiye, where Law No. 6331 (Art. 6) requires every employer, whatever its size, to provide the services of an OSH specialist and a workplace physician (in house, through a joint OSH service unit, or in limited cases by the qualified employer itself), Azerbaijan links appointments to headcount. The OSH service must be staffed by specialists who know labour law and OSH norms. They may give binding instructions to managers to remove violations and propose disciplinary action (Art. 223.3). They may not be given duties outside OSH (Art. 223.4), and the employer may reorganise or abolish the service only with the State Labour Inspection Service's consent (Art. 223.5).

The Ministry of Labour's 1999 recommendations on organising the OSH service describe it as an independent unit reporting directly to the employer, normally staffed by people with an engineering degree, and recommend that its staff upgrade their qualifications at least every 3 years. These are recommendations, not legal minimums.

What about occupational physicians?

Outside the occupational hygiene doctor post in enterprises with more than 1,000 workers, the Labour Code does not require an in-house occupational physician. Health surveillance is still compulsory: Art. 226 requires pre-employment and periodic medical examinations, paid by the employer, for heavy, harmful and hazardous work, and a worker who ignores the recommendations of the medical commission can be removed from work (Art. 226.2). Staff of hazard-potential facilities must be examined at least once a year under the Law on Technical Safety.

Worked example

The 180-worker contractor in the table must also make sure the engineer is not used as a site supervisor or store keeper: giving OSH staff unrelated work is an administrative offence (Code of Administrative Offences Art. 200, fine AZN 1,200 in the text we checked in November 2026).

Common mistakes

• Leaving fixed-term employees out of the headcount: Article 223 refers simply to the number of workers, so check the count with the inspectorate if in doubt.
• Making the OSH engineer also responsible for production or logistics.
• Assuming no medical arrangements are needed below 1,000 workers: medical examinations are still compulsory for hazardous work.

Related on excodex

• Occupational safety and health in Azerbaijan: law, authorities and employer duties
• Medical examinations for workers in Azerbaijan
• OSH law compared: who must appoint whom

Standards and further reading

• Labour Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Arts. 223 and 226: https://e-qanun.az/framework/46943
• Law No. 332-VIIQD of 30 December 2025 (new Art. 223.2-1): https://e-qanun.az/framework/61202
• Recommendations on organising the OSH service, ministry collegium decision No. 6-2 of 16 February 1999: https://e-qanun.az/framework/11166
• Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 200: https://e-qanun.az/framework/46960
• Law on Technical Safety No. 733-IQ, Art. 10 (yearly examination at hazard-potential facilities): https://e-qanun.az/framework/21

This article is general occupational safety and health information prepared by the excodex editorial team. It does not replace the applicable legislation, standards, manufacturers' instructions or the assessment of a competent OSH professional or occupational physician.