The PRC Work Safety Law was amended on 10 June 2021, with the amendment effective on 1 September 2021. These selections are newly translated from the official Chinese law for employers, particularly those operating manufacturing, production, logistics and other safety-sensitive workplaces. Special industry rules may also apply.
Chinese original: 中华人民共和国安全生产法（2021年修正）. Checked: 26 October 2026. These are selected independent English translations, not a certified translation or the complete statute.
Table of Contents
Responsibilities of business operators — Articles 4 and 21
Selected provision, independently translated: Organizations engaged in production or business operations must comply with relevant work-safety requirements and strengthen their systems of safety responsibility. The principal person in charge must fulfill prescribed duties for safety management, education, inspections and emergency-response arrangements.
Employer application: Responsibility for safety management cannot be eliminated simply by outsourcing HR administration.
Safety management staffing — Article 24
Selected provision, independently translated: Mines, metal-smelting operations, construction and certain hazardous-material and transport activities have particular safety management staffing obligations. Other enterprises are subject to arrangements that depend on employee numbers and relevant statutory thresholds.
Employer application: Assess the operation’s industry, size and jurisdiction before assigning safety roles.
Training, records and dispatched workers — Article 28
Selected provision, independently translated: Organizations must provide safety education and training so workers understand applicable requirements, job hazards, operating methods and response measures; staff may not take a post before meeting the required training standards. Dispatched workers are included in the user’s unified worker safety management and job-specific training, while dispatching units also have specified training responsibilities.
Employer application: Onboarding a dispatched worker without job-specific safety instruction is not an acceptable shortcut.
Risk control and hazard investigations — Articles 41 and 44
Selected provision, independently translated: Business operators must establish graded safety risk control and accident-hazard inspection and management mechanisms. Employees must be informed of workplace risks and appropriate protective arrangements under the relevant provisions.
Employer application: Maintain evidence of risk assessments, hazard remediation and employee communications.
Injury insurance — Article 51
Selected provision, independently translated: Business operators must participate in work-related injury insurance as required by law and pay the applicable premiums for workers. Certain high-risk industries must also take out safety-production liability insurance as specified by the state.
Employer application: Confirm local insurance implementation and whether special industry insurance applies.
Employment contracts and worker rights — Articles 52–54
Selected provision, independently translated: Employment contracts must address protection of safety, occupational-hazard prevention and work-related injury insurance. Agreements purporting to exempt or reduce statutory liability for injury or death are prohibited. Workers have rights to know hazards and refuse unlawful dangerous instructions, without adverse treatment on that ground.
Employer application: Employment documentation, contractor coordination and safety training should align.
Safety events and employer obligations — Articles 50 and 56
Selected provision, independently translated: When a production safety accident occurs, the organization’s principal responsible person must promptly organize rescue. The law also provides for employees to obtain emergency assistance and for operators to respond to dangerous situations in accordance with their duties.
Employer application: Use an incident-response procedure appropriate to local supervisory requirements; do not assume that one template covers every regulated site.
Related: China Labor Law · official Chinese Work Safety Law.
Sector rules and later notices can modify the operational requirements. This summary is not legal advice.
