Certificate of Need

A contractual obligation where one party agrees to cover another's losses, claims, or legal costs. For subcontractors, indemnification clauses often require you to absorb liability even for an operator's own negligence. Always have legal counsel review these clauses before signing.

A site-specific document outlining how ground or overhead hazards will be managed in underground or enclosed work areas. Subcontractors must review and follow it before starting work on a mine or tunnel site. It defines approved support methods, inspection requirements, and who holds authority to halt unsafe work.

U.S. federal law setting minimum wage, overtime pay, and worker classification standards. Subcontractors must correctly classify workers as employees or independent contractors to avoid penalties. Misclassification can trigger back pay claims and audits on field crews.

The process of renewing or repeating required safety, technical, or vendor approvals after they have lapsed or been revoked. Operators and prime contractors may require subcontractors to re-qualify before awarding new work. Failing to re-qualify on time can result in removal from approved vendor lists.

Formal approval granted by an oil and gas operator confirming a subcontractor meets their specific safety, training, and insurance standards. Without it, your crews cannot access the operator's sites or perform work. Certification requirements vary by operator and must be renewed regularly.

A standardised code system used to classify businesses by industry type across Canada, the US, and Mexico. Subcontractors use NAICS codes when registering with clients, bidding on contracts, or filing taxes. Your code signals what work you perform and affects vendor qualification and insurance requirements.

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.

OSHA 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.

How 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.