Which rules apply to major-hazard chemical sites in Iran?

No regulation for major-hazard chemical sites like the EU Seveso III Directive or Türkiye's BEKRA regulation could be verified in Iran. Such a regulation would set inventory thresholds, a major-accident prevention policy, a safety report and public information. Major-hazard sites are governed by the Labour Law's general OSH chapter, the protective regulations of the High Council for Technical Protection, ILO Convention No. 155 (in force since 2024) and the HSE rules of the oil, gas and petrochemical sector.

Short answer

• No Seveso-type law verified: no Iranian instrument with qualifying quantities, lower and upper tiers or a statutory safety report could be found from an official source.
• ILO: Iran ratified C155 and its 2002 Protocol on 7 February 2023, in force since 7 February 2024. The ILO described them as Iran's first ratified OSH standards, so the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 (No. 174) was not ratified at that date.
• Labour Law duties that apply: plan approval before a new or expanded plant is used (Article 87). Testing of harmful machinery (Article 89). Safety means, training and supervision (Article 91). Annual examinations of exposed workers (Article 92). Accident register and notice (Article 95).
• Enforcement: inspectors can raise a likely accident or dangerous condition, and the court can close all or part of the site until it is made safe (Article 105). The employer or manager is criminally and civilly liable for an accident caused by a breach (Article 95).
• Sector rules: state oil, gas and petrochemical companies run their own HSE units and standards, which add to the Labour Law duties. Contracts usually make these binding on contractors.

What the Labour Law gives a major-hazard site

The strongest tool is Article 87. Anyone who wants to build a new workplace or expand an existing one must first submit the work programme, architectural drawings and plans to the Ministry of Labour so that safety and health can be considered. The ministry must reply within one month, and the workplace may be used only if the safety and health provisions are met. For a process plant this is the point where the layout, separation distances, relief and emergency systems and hazardous areas are reviewed. Failure to comply is an offence under Article 177, punishable by 91 to 120 days' imprisonment or a fine of 300 to 1,500 times the minimum daily wage depending on workplace size, and 121 to 180 days on repetition.

Once the plant is running, the general duty in Article 91 and inspection under Articles 96 to 105 apply. The labour inspectorate investigates accidents and analyses accident statistics (Article 96 (e)). The Ministry of Health's occupational health inspectors cover chemical exposure. A 2025 national OSH study notes that the HSE units of government and public organisations work separately from the primary health care network that delivers most occupational health services.

A practical major-accident framework for Iranian sites

Because the law does not set a Seveso-type structure, operators and investors usually adopt one through policy and contracts:

1. Hazard identification: HAZID and HAZOP for each unit, with layers of protection analysis (LOPA) and safety integrity level (SIL) determination for instrumented safeguards.
2. Major-accident prevention policy and safety management system: often aligned with Seveso III or OSHA process safety management elements.
3. Consequence modelling and land use: fire, explosion and toxic release scenarios, with the effects on neighbours and on other plants nearby.
4. Emergency plan: on-site plan, drills, and agreed arrangements with fire services and neighbouring plants.
5. Mechanical integrity and management of change.
6. Records: an approved Article 87 file, accident register, committee minutes and medical files ready for inspectors.

Comparison with the EU and Türkiye

Related on excodex

• Occupational safety and health in Iran: law, authorities and employer duties
• Seveso III: major-accident prevention, tiers and duties
• How are explosive atmospheres and Ex equipment regulated in Iran?
• BEKRA: the major industrial accidents regulation in Türkiye

Standards and further reading

• Labour Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1990, Articles 87 to 105 and 177: Chapter 4, Iran Data Portal; Chapter 11, Iran Data Portal.
• ILO: Iran ratifies C155 and its Protocol (2023).
• ILO Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 (No. 174).
• IEC 61511, functional safety: safety instrumented systems for the process industry sector.
• Türkiye, Regulation on the Prevention and Mitigation of Major Industrial Accidents (BEKRA), Official Gazette 2 March 2019: mevzuat.gov.tr.

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.