Occupational safety International framework and country guides
What are the penalties for breaking occupational safety rules in Azerbaijan?
Part of: Occupational safety and health in Azerbaijan: law, authorities and employer duties
Short answer
Mainly administrative fines, for example AZN 500 to 1,000 for breaching labour protection rules and AZN 1,000 to 2,200 for not reporting an accident the same day (2025), plus prison terms of up to 7 years, or 10 at explosion-hazardous sites, where deaths result.
Breaches of occupational safety rules in Azerbaijan are punished mainly with administrative fines under the Code of Administrative Offences, for example AZN 500 to 1,000 for breaching labour protection rules and AZN 1,000 to 2,200 for concealing an accident or not reporting it on the same day (2025 wording). Where a breach causes serious harm or death, the responsible person faces criminal liability under the Criminal Code, with imprisonment of up to 5 years for one death and 3 to 7 years for two or more deaths, and higher terms at explosion-hazardous facilities.
Short answer
- Administrative fines (İnzibati Xətalar Məcəlləsi, 2015): Arts. 198 to 200 and 555 to 556 for OSH offences; amounts below are from the consolidated text and amending laws we checked in November 2026.
- Criminal liability (Cinayət Məcəlləsi, 1999): Art. 162 for breaches of OSH rules causing harm or death; Art. 223 for breaches at explosion-hazardous facilities.
- Work stoppage: the labour inspectorate can stop work or equipment that endangers life or health until the breach is removed (Labour Code Arts. 218.7 and 229).
- Compensation: an employer at fault pays full damages, except where the worker is covered by compulsory accident insurance (Labour Code Art. 239).
- Fines change: check the current text on e-qanun.az before quoting an amount.
Administrative fines
| Offence | Article | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Breach of labour protection rules: standards, safety of buildings and equipment, sanitary conditions, welfare, working time and rest (including unlawful overtime since 2025), PPE, training, collective agreement, statistics, machines without the guards on moving parts | 198.1 | AZN 500 to 1,000 |
| Person responsible for safety breaches the rules and negligently causes minor harm to health | 198.2 | AZN 1,000 to 1,500 |
| Same, causing less serious harm | 198.3 | AZN 1,500 to 2,000 |
| Employer does not provide healthy and safe conditions or collective agreement OSH measures | 199 | AZN 700 to 1,500 |
| OSH service staff given unrelated work | 200 | AZN 1,200 |
| Concealing an accident or not reporting it to the inspectorate on the day | 555.1 | AZN 1,000 to 2,200 |
| Not drawing up the accident act within one day after the investigation, or evading it | 555.2 | AZN 1,500 to 2,200 |
| Designing or building production premises or equipment that do not meet OSH norms | 556.1 | Officials AZN 1,200 to 2,000; legal entities AZN 2,500 to 3,500 |
| Using harmful substances without the required expertise | 556.2 | Officials AZN 1,500 to 2,500; legal entities AZN 3,000 to 4,000 |
| Putting a new or rebuilt facility into operation without the certificate-passport | 556.3 | Officials AZN 1,500 to 2,500; legal entities AZN 3,000 to 4,000 |
Article 555 was rewritten by Law No. 178-VIIQD of 11 April 2025, which also merged the former separate offence of concealment into 555.1. The same law extended Art. 198.1.5 to unlawful overtime.
Criminal liability
| Offence | Article | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Breach of safety or other OSH rules by the person responsible, causing serious or less serious harm by negligence | 162.1 | Fine AZN 2,000 to 3,000, correctional work up to 2 years, restriction of liberty up to 1 year or imprisonment up to 6 months |
| Same, causing death | 162.2 | Imprisonment up to 5 years, with or without a 3 to 5 year ban from certain posts or activities |
| Same, causing two or more deaths | 162.3 | Imprisonment 3 to 7 years, with or without a ban of up to 3 years |
| Breach of safety rules at explosion-hazardous facilities or workshops causing less serious or serious harm | 223.1 | Fine AZN 2,000 to 4,000, restriction of liberty up to 3 years (or up to 2 years with a ban of up to 3 years) or imprisonment up to 2 years |
| Same, causing death or other grave consequences | 223.2 | Imprisonment 3 to 6 years, with or without a ban of up to 3 years |
| Same, causing two or more deaths | 223.3 | Imprisonment 5 to 10 years with a ban of up to 3 years |
Art. 162 applies to the person entrusted with ensuring compliance with technical safety or other OSH rules, so job descriptions and written appointments matter. Art. 223 is not limited in this way: it covers anyone who breaches the safety rules at an explosion-hazardous facility or workshop. Note that less serious harm appears both in Art. 198.3 of the administrative code and in Art. 162.1 of the Criminal Code, so the competent authorities decide case by case which code applies.
Example and practical points
Example: At a cement plant a worker's hand is injured in a conveyor whose guard had been removed. The employer reports the accident only two days later. The inspectorate can fine for the missing guard under Art. 198.1.10 and for the late report under Art. 555.1, and the responsible supervisor may face a fine under Art. 198.3 (less serious harm) or criminal liability under Art. 162.1, which covers both less serious and serious harm.
Note: The inspection moratorium (Law No. 1410-IVQ of 2015, extended to 1 January 2027 by Law No. 348-VIIQD of 2 February 2026) limits routine inspections of businesses, but it does not remove liability, and accident investigations continue.
Related on excodex
- Occupational safety and health in Azerbaijan: law, authorities and employer duties
- How to report a workplace accident in Azerbaijan
- Main OSH law and enforcement in Azerbaijan
Standards and further reading
- Code of Administrative Offences (2015), Arts. 198 to 200, 555 and 556: https://e-qanun.az/framework/46960
- Law No. 178-VIIQD of 11 April 2025 amending the Code of Administrative Offences: https://e-qanun.az/framework/59769
- Criminal Code (1999), Arts. 162 and 223: https://e-qanun.az/framework/46947
- Labour Code, Arts. 218, 229, 238 and 239: https://e-qanun.az/framework/46943
- Law No. 1410-IVQ on suspension of inspections: https://e-qanun.az/framework/31093 and Law No. 348-VIIQD: https://e-qanun.az/framework/61328
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.
More questions on this topic
- What is the main occupational safety and health law in Azerbaijan and who enforces it?
- Must an employer in Azerbaijan appoint a safety professional or an occupational physician?
- Is a written risk assessment mandatory in Azerbaijan, and how often must it be reviewed?
- How and within what time must a workplace accident be reported in Azerbaijan?
- What OSH training must employers provide to workers in Azerbaijan?
- Are pre-employment and periodic medical examinations required for workers in Azerbaijan?
- Is a safety committee or a worker safety representative required in Azerbaijan?
- How are explosive atmospheres and Ex equipment regulated in Azerbaijan?
Part of: Occupational safety and health in Azerbaijan: law, authorities and employer duties