Personal legal responsibility that company directors carry when their firm fails to meet obligations like unpaid wages or HST remittances. In field service companies, owners acting as directors can be held personally liable for corporate debts. Subcontractors operating as incorporated businesses should understand this risk before taking on large contracts.
ComplianceGlossary Term
Director Liability
Related Terms
Facility Permit
ComplianceA site-specific authorisation required before subcontractors can perform work at an owner-operated facility. It outlines approved work scopes, safety conditions, and access restrictions. Failing to secure one before mobilising can result in removal from site or contract penalties.
National Emphasis Program (nep)
ComplianceA targeted OSHA enforcement initiative that focuses inspections on high-hazard industries or specific workplace dangers. Subcontractors in oil and gas or construction are frequently subject to NEP audits. Being on an active NEP site means heightened scrutiny of your crew's documentation, PPE, and safety procedures.
FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
ComplianceThe U.S. federal agency regulating commercial trucking and transportation safety. Subcontractors hauling equipment across the border or operating in the U.S. must comply with FMCSA rules. This includes driver logs, vehicle inspections, and carrier registration requirements.
EMR (Experience Modification Rate)
ComplianceA numerical score calculated by insurers that compares your company's workplace injury claims to industry averages. A score below 1.0 indicates a safer-than-average record; above 1.0 signals higher risk. Many prime contractors and operators require subcontractors to maintain a low EMR to qualify for bid lists.
CCO (Certified Crane Operator)
ComplianceA crane operator who holds recognised certification confirming competency to safely operate lifting equipment on job sites. Most oil & gas and construction contracts require subcontractors to supply CCO-certified operators. Verify certification currency before mobilisation, as expired credentials can halt work and trigger compliance penalties.
FTA (Federal Transit Administration)
ComplianceA U.S. federal agency that funds and regulates public transit infrastructure projects. Subcontractors working on federally funded transit construction must meet strict FTA compliance requirements. These include labour standards, safety protocols, and Buy America provisions for materials.
Latest Compliance News
Compliance
Oshawa GO Station Expansion Breaks Ground, Adding Track and Platform Packages
Construction has started on a major expansion of Durham College Oshawa GO Station, adding two tracks, new platforms, and pedestrian bridges to support two-way, all-day GO service, Daily Commercial News reports.
2 days agoComplianceNIOSH Releases Toolbox Talk on Overhead Power Line Hazards
NIOSH and CPWR published a new toolbox talk urging crane, lift and ladder crews to keep 20 feet of clearance from overhead power lines after a fatal crane incident on a school jobsite.
7 days agoComplianceCSB Report: Longview Tank Was Flagged "Not Fit for Service" 10 Months Before Fatal Failure
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board found that an inspection report warned Nippon Dynawave that a storage tank at its Longview, WA mill was unfit for continued service months before it failed, killing 11 workers.
9 days agoComplianceCSB Update: Fatal H2S Release at WV Refiner Tied to Missing Decommissioning Procedures
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board's ongoing probe into a fatal April 2026 hydrogen sulfide release at Catalyst Refiners in Institute, West Virginia, found workers lacked gas monitors and proper respirator filters during decommissioning work.
9 days agoRelated Guides
Compliance Guide
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.
Stay sharp on field operations
Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to FieldNewsA community project by