The leading industry organisation that develops technical standards, safety protocols, and equipment specifications that subcontractors must follow when working on oil and gas projects. API certifications and compliance with API standards are often mandatory requirements in service contracts and can affect your ability to bid on projects.
API (American Petroleum Institute)
Related Terms
Exposing Employer
ComplianceThe company that directly exposes workers to a hazard on a multi-employer worksite, such as a subcontractor whose crew creates a fall risk. Under Canadian OHS regulations, the exposing employer holds primary responsibility for controlling that hazard. Subcontractors must understand this designation, as it determines who is liable for corrective action.
Heat Illness Prevention Program
ComplianceA documented safety plan requiring subcontractors to manage worker exposure to extreme heat on jobsites. It typically covers hydration protocols, work-rest cycles, and heat acclimatisation schedules. Clients and prime contractors often require proof of a compliant program before mobilisation.
Zero-Tolerance (drug and Alcohol Policy)
ComplianceA site policy that prohibits any detectable level of drugs or alcohol in workers. Subcontractors must ensure all personnel pass pre-access and random testing. Violations typically result in immediate removal from site and contract penalties.
DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)
ComplianceAn emissions control device fitted to diesel-powered equipment that traps soot and particulate matter from exhaust. Subcontractors must ensure DPFs are maintained and operational to meet Tier 4 emissions requirements on regulated job sites. Failing inspections or bypassing filters can result in equipment being pulled from service.
Federal Onshore Acreage
ComplianceLand managed by the federal government and leased for oil, gas, or resource extraction. Work on these lands requires additional permits, compliance steps, and federal oversight. Subcontractors must verify their employer holds valid federal authorisations before mobilising.
Lead Service Line Replacement
ComplianceA regulated programme to remove and replace lead water pipes connecting mains to buildings. Subcontractors are often mobilised under municipal contracts to perform excavation, pipe removal, and restoration work. Compliance with environmental and safety regulations is mandatory throughout.
Latest Compliance News
API Calls for SPR Overhaul and Permitting Reform After Hormuz Closure Exposes US Energy Vulnerabilities
API President Mike Sommers urged Congress to modernize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and accelerate permitting reform following the Strait of Hormuz closure, warning that US energy infrastructure cannot meet modern supply disruptions.
10 days ago IndustryCapital-CMT Team Selected for $471M Missouri I-44 Design-Build Freight Corridor Project
Missouri has picked the Capital-CMT Team as best-value proposer for the $471 million Forward 44 Southwest I-44 Improvements Project, a major design-build effort covering interchange reconstruction, bridge work, and pavement upgrades across southwest Missouri.
1 month ago IndustryDrilling Mud Direct Lands Broadwater Capital Partnership to Grow HDD Supply Network
Colorado-based Drilling Mud Direct has secured financing from Broadwater Capital to expand its stockpoint network and distribution capabilities across the US, a move that signals continued confidence in HDD and civil construction demand.
2 months ago IndustrySix API SCIMI Standards Published in 2025, Including Updates to Core Inspection Codes
API's Subcommittee on Inspection and Mechanical Integrity published six standards in 2025, covering piping, pressure vessels, and storage tanks. Here's what refinery and pipeline inspection contractors need to know.
2 months agoRelated Guides
When a Jobsite Incident Happens: What Field Workers Need to Know Before Signing Anything
What to do after a jobsite injury or incident, what your rights are before signing incident reports, how workers' compensation works, and how to protect yourself on multi-employer worksites.
Compliance GuideOSHA Citations on Multi-Employer Worksites: What Subcontractors Need to Know
Learn how OSHA's multi-employer citation policy works, why subcontractors get cited for hazards they didn't create, and how to protect your company on operator-controlled job sites.
Compliance GuideHow to Read and Negotiate an Oilfield Master Service Agreement (MSA): A Subcontractor's Guide
Learn which MSA clauses actually matter for oilfield subcontractors: indemnity, insurance, payment terms, and change orders. Know what you're signing.
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