A database where excavation-related damages to underground utilities are logged and analyzed. Subcontractors doing ground disturbance work may need to report incidents through this system. Insurance carriers and clients often review DIRT data when evaluating a contractor's safety record.
DIRT (Damage Information Reporting Tool)
Related Terms
ELG (Effluent Limitations Guidelines)
ComplianceFederal regulations setting discharge limits for wastewater and pollutants released from industrial worksites. Subcontractors handling fluid waste, drilling muds, or site runoff must meet ELG thresholds or face penalties. Non-compliance can halt operations and void contracts.
Certificate of Need
ComplianceA regulatory document authorising a subcontractor to provide specific services or deploy equipment in a given jurisdiction. Obtaining one may be required before mobilising crews or bidding on certain projects. Delays in approval can impact project start dates and cash flow.
Medium-Voltage
ComplianceElectrical systems operating between 1 kV and 35 kV, commonly found on industrial sites and oil and gas facilities. Subcontractors working near MV equipment typically require specialised certifications and strict site safety compliance. Always confirm voltage classifications before mobilising electrical crews.
Consequential Damages
ComplianceIndirect losses a party claims resulted from a contractor's failure, such as lost production revenue or project delays. Most subcontracts include a mutual waiver clause excluding these claims entirely. Always confirm this waiver is present before signing any field service agreement.
Situational Awareness
ComplianceA worker's real-time understanding of hazards, personnel, and conditions on a job site. For subcontractors, it means knowing who is working nearby, what equipment is active, and how conditions are changing. Strong situational awareness reduces incidents and keeps crews aligned with the prime contractor's safety expectations.
MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration)
ComplianceA U.S. federal agency that regulates safety at mines and quarries. Subcontractors working on mine sites must comply with MSHA standards, separate from OSHA rules. Workers may require site-specific MSHA training before mobilising.
Latest Compliance News
CGA's 2025 DIRT Data Shows Record-High Utility Dig-In Damages
Common Ground Alliance's 2025 DIRT data shows buried utility damages hit a record high, with failure to call 811 remaining the top root cause.
3 months agoComplianceFederal OSHA Penalties Fell 47% in 2025. Here Is What Still Getting Workers Killed.
National COSH's 2026 Dirty Dozen list names the companies with the worst workplace safety records, released as federal enforcement hits a historic low. Here's what subcontractors need to know.
5 months agoComplianceRed Seal $5,000 Completion Bonus Portal Opens Nov. 16
Canadian journeypersons certified in a Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025 can apply for a $5,000 federal bonus starting Nov. 16, 2026. Here is what employers should prepare now.
2 days agoComplianceTraffic Exposure Was the Top Hazard on Caltrans LA Tunnel Relighting
On Aldridge Electric's I-405/I-105 tunnel relighting in Los Angeles, traffic breaches drove the safety plan. Here is what electrical and traffic control subs can take from it before bidding live-traffic work.
4 days 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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