A provision in occupational health and safety legislation requiring employers to protect workers from recognised hazards, even when no specific regulation exists. For subcontractors, this means you can be cited for unsafe conditions on site regardless of client-controlled environments. It applies to your workers whether you own the worksite or not.
General Duty Clause
Related Terms
FCI (Federal Contract Information)
ComplianceInformation provided by or generated for a federal government contract, but not intended for public release. Subcontractors handling FCI must meet specific cybersecurity and data protection requirements. Non-compliance can result in contract termination or disqualification from future federal work.
Trenching Collapse
ComplianceA sudden cave-in of trench walls during excavation, posing serious injury or fatality risk to workers below grade. Subcontractors must ensure shoring, sloping, or trench box systems meet provincial OH&S requirements before crew entry. Liability for collapse incidents often falls on the excavating subcontractor, making documented safety compliance critical.
Indigenous Procurement
ComplianceA requirement by project owners to source goods and services from Indigenous-owned businesses. Subcontractors on major oil & gas or construction projects may need to meet minimum Indigenous spend targets. This can affect how you select suppliers, vendors, and labour providers on site.
NOPR (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking)
ComplianceA formal government notice announcing a regulation under development that may affect your operations, safety requirements, or labour standards. Subcontractors should monitor NOPRs to anticipate compliance costs before rules become law. Responding during the public comment period can help protect your interests.
Pre-Task Planning
ComplianceA structured safety and work review completed by a crew before starting a job on site. Subcontractors use it to identify hazards, assign roles, and confirm equipment readiness. It is often required by the prime contractor before work can begin.
Recordable Injury
ComplianceA work-related injury or illness that requires more than basic first aid, such as medical treatment, restricted duty, or lost time. Subcontractors must log these incidents and report them to the prime contractor. High recordable rates can disqualify your company from future bids or vendor pre-qualification lists.
Latest Compliance News
Red 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 agoComplianceFinning Fined $155K After 2023 Loader Injury Near Fort McMurray
Finning International pleaded guilty to an Alberta OHS Code count after a worker was struck by a moving loader in 2023. The $155,000 creative sentence funds third-party-site safety training.
5 days agoComplianceMIOSHA Cites MDOT Over Lane Closure in Fatal U.S. 127 Crash
MIOSHA found MDOT failed to close a lane during a rolling pothole repair on U.S. 127 where two road workers died in May. Highway maintenance subs should review their own moving-operation traffic control.
7 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.
Stay sharp on field operations
Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to FieldNews
