Mandatory government deductions withheld from employee wages, including CPP, EI, and income tax. Subcontractors with direct employees must remit these to the CRA on a set schedule. Misclassifying workers as independent contractors to avoid payroll tax can trigger costly audits.
Payroll Tax
Related Terms
Compliance Theater
ComplianceWhen a prime contractor or owner requires paperwork and box-checking that looks rigorous but adds no real safety value. Subcontractors absorb the administrative burden without reducing on-site risk. Recognising it helps crews push back on inefficiencies that drain time and resources.
Indemnity Provision
ComplianceA contract clause that transfers liability for losses, injuries, or damages between parties. Subcontractors are often required to indemnify the prime contractor or operator against third-party claims. Review these clauses carefully, as they can expose your company to costs beyond your scope of work.
Surface Transportation Reauthorization
ComplianceA periodic federal renewal of legislation governing road, rail, and trucking regulations. For subcontractors, it can change load limits, hauling permits, and carrier compliance requirements. Review updates carefully, as new rules may affect equipment mobilisation costs and timelines.
Local Content
ComplianceA requirement that a set percentage of workers, materials, or services come from the local region or country. Subcontractors must often prove local hiring and sourcing to help clients meet these obligations. Non-compliance can disqualify your bid or void a contract.
Jones Act Waiver
ComplianceA temporary federal exemption allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport cargo between U.S. ports. Subcontractors may encounter this during emergency offshore operations or disaster response work. Waivers affect vessel availability, crewing rules, and subcontract scope on marine projects.
OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control)
ComplianceA U.S. Treasury agency that enforces sanctions against designated countries, companies, and individuals. Subcontractors must screen clients and vendors against OFAC lists before accepting contracts or payments. Working with a sanctioned party can result in severe fines and contract termination.
Latest Compliance News
OSHA Dallas Region Administrator Talks Fall Protection, Lockout/Tagout, and Enforcement Direction
OSHA's Eric Harbin, administrator of the Dallas Region, discussed fall protection failures, lockout/tagout compliance, and the agency's current enforcement posture in a new interview with Safety+Health Magazine.
22 hours ago ComplianceYour Newest Hire Is Your Highest-Risk Worker: Closing the First-30-Days Safety Gap
New workers account for a disproportionate share of workplace fatalities, with 47% of new-hire injuries occurring in the first 30 days. Here's what the data says and what subcontractors should do about it.
22 hours ago ComplianceCSB Investigates Fatal Chemical Release at West Virginia Refining Facility
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has opened an investigation into a fatal hydrogen sulfide release at a West Virginia catalyst refining facility that killed two workers and injured more than 30 others.
3 days ago ComplianceTwo Fatal Collapses at Violation-Heavy West Virginia Mines Signal Compounding Liability Risk
Two West Virginia coal miners died in separate accidents within 24 hours in early April 2026, both at mines with documented histories of dozens of safety violations. Here's what field contractors working near mining and heavy excavation sites need to know.
3 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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