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Compliance Glossary Term

Joint Employer

A legal finding that two companies share employer responsibilities over the same workers. In field service, this can mean a client company is liable for your crew's wages, hours, or working conditions. Subcontractors should review contracts carefully to avoid unintended joint employer exposure.

Related Terms

Industrial Carbon Tax

Compliance

A federal levy charged to large industrial facilities based on their greenhouse gas emissions. As a subcontractor, your clients may pass these costs down through contract terms or fuel surcharges. Review your agreements closely to understand who bears this liability.

Third-Party Representative

Compliance

An independent inspector or agent hired by an operator or owner to verify that field work meets contract specifications. They are not your direct client but hold authority to approve, reject, or halt work on site. As a subcontractor, their sign-off is often required before progress billing is accepted.

Struck-By Hazard

Compliance

A struck-by hazard refers to any situation on a worksite where personnel risk injury from a moving object, such as swinging loads, dropped tools, vehicles, or pressurised line failures — a leading cause of fatality that subcontractors must identify and control in their site-specific hazard assessments and toolbox talks. For field service crews working around heavy equipment, cranes, or high-traffic laydown yards, recognising and mitigating struck-by risks is a core compliance obligation under provincial occupational health and safety legislation.

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)

Compliance

A U.S. Department of Defence framework requiring contractors to meet specific cybersecurity standards before bidding on federal contracts. For field subcontractors, it means your digital systems, devices, and data handling practices must pass a formal audit. Without certification, you may be disqualified from certain government-linked oil and gas or construction projects.

Methane Regulations

Compliance

Federal and provincial rules limiting methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Subcontractors must ensure equipment like compressors and pneumatic devices meets leak detection and repair standards. Non-compliance can result in work stoppages or contract termination.

Classification (aggregate)

Compliance

A method of grouping all subcontractor invoices or costs together to assess total contract value or spending thresholds. Owners and primes use aggregate classification to trigger compliance requirements, audit rights, or tiered pricing terms. Subcontractors should track cumulative billing carefully, as crossing thresholds can change contract obligations.

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