Brunei EHS Legal Register

EHS & Sustainability Landscape in Brunei 

Brunei’s workplace safety and health framework is centred on the Workplace Safety and Health Order 2009 (WSHO 2009, Cap. 277). While this provides the foundation for occupational safety and health across most industries, the regulatory picture is not the same for every business. 

General workplaces, such as those in manufacturing, logistics, commercial activities, and services, operate within a different regulatory environment from petroleum, gas, and major accident hazard industries. Understanding where your operations sit is an important first step in identifying the requirements that apply. 

For general industry, the key authorities include: 

• Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA), the main regulator responsible for workplace safety and health matters, including enforcement, licensing, and requirements relating to workplace safety and health officers. 


• Department of Labour, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which oversees employment-related occupational safety and health matters and other labour compliance requirements. 

The picture changes for petroleum, gas, and other energy-related operations. 

In these sectors, additional requirements may fall under the Energy Department, which oversees major accident hazard industries and sector-specific safety and environmental obligations. 

This distinction can create confusion, particularly for organisations entering Brunei or expanding into new areas of operation. A business may focus on the requirements of one authority while overlooking obligations administered by another. 

The Brunei EHS Legal Register helps bring the relevant requirements into one reference point, making it easier for facility managers, HR teams, and compliance personnel to identify which regulatory obligations apply to their operations.