Permit Filings

The prime contractor or site owner who directs work conditions and sets safety rules on a multi-employer worksite. As a subcontractor, you may still be cited for hazards even if the controlling employer created them. Knowing who holds this role determines your compliance obligations on any jobsite.

A shored or sloped excavation method used to protect workers from cave-ins during underground pipeline or utility work. Subcontractors are typically required to design and document the system before crews enter any trench deeper than 1.2 metres. Compliance with provincial safety codes is mandatory and directly affects site access approvals.

A technique where certified technicians use ropes and harnesses to reach elevated or confined work areas without scaffolding. Common in tank inspections, flare stack maintenance, and structural repairs. Subcontractors must ensure crews hold valid IRATA or SPRAT certifications before mobilising.

A dispute resolution process where both parties agree to let a neutral third party make a final, legally enforceable decision. Subcontractors often encounter this clause in master service agreements with operators. Unlike court proceedings, the arbitrator's ruling cannot typically be appealed.

The length of time a work permit remains valid before requiring renewal or reissuance. Short permit durability can stall field crews and create costly downtime between tasks. Subcontractors should confirm permit expiry windows before scheduling labour and equipment.

A regulated programme to remove and replace lead water pipes connecting mains to buildings. Subcontractors are often mobilised under municipal contracts to perform excavation, pipe removal, and restoration work. Compliance with environmental and safety regulations is mandatory throughout.

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.

OSHA 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.

How 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.