Texas state agency that regulates oil, gas, and pipeline operations. Subcontractors working in Texas must comply with RRC permits, well plugging rules, and environmental requirements. Non-compliance can result in fines or loss of operating authority.
RRC (Railroad Commission of Texas)
Related Terms
Controlling Employer
ComplianceThe 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.
Leave-To-Construct
ComplianceA regulatory approval authorizing a pipeline or facility to proceed to physical construction. Subcontractors cannot mobilise crews or begin ground disturbance until this permit is granted. Delays in approval directly impact project start dates and subcontractor scheduling.
Lockout
ComplianceA safety procedure requiring energy sources on equipment to be physically isolated and locked before maintenance work begins. Subcontractors must follow site-specific lockout procedures or risk removal from the worksite. Verify your crew holds valid lockout/tagout certification before mobilising.
Arbitration
ComplianceA private dispute resolution process where a neutral third party settles contract disagreements outside of court. Subcontractors often encounter arbitration clauses in master service agreements. It can limit your right to sue a prime contractor or operator directly.
Dot (department of Transportation) Drug and Alcohol Policy
ComplianceA federally mandated programme requiring safety-sensitive workers in transportation-regulated roles to undergo drug and alcohol testing. Subcontractors supplying drivers or operators must maintain a compliant testing programme or enrol through a consortium. Non-compliance can result in removed site access, contract termination, or regulatory penalties.
Exposing Employer
ComplianceThe company that directly exposes workers to a hazard on a multi-employer worksite, such as a subcontractor whose crew creates a fall risk. Under Canadian OHS regulations, the exposing employer holds primary responsibility for controlling that hazard. Subcontractors must understand this designation, as it determines who is liable for corrective action.
Latest Compliance News
Texas RRC, Texas A&M Launch Electrical Safety Training for Oilfield Inspectors
The Texas Railroad Commission and Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service launched a new fire prevention and electrical safety course for oil and gas inspectors, aimed at cutting wildfire risk at well sites.
2 months agoComplianceTexas RRC Plugs Six Orphaned Gas Wells in Baffin Bay Coastal Waters
The Texas Railroad Commission has launched a plugging project targeting six leaking orphaned gas wells near Corpus Christi, backed by $100 million in state legislative funding and $3 million from the Texas General Land Office.
3 months agoComplianceTexas RRC Hits Oil and Gas Operators With $1.1 Million in Enforcement Penalties
The Railroad Commission of Texas approved more than $1.1 million in fines at its latest open meeting, targeting operators across drilling, production, and pipeline operations. Field service companies working in Texas should take note.
4 months agoComplianceTexas RRC Opens Bi-Monthly Virtual Sessions for Public Input
Railroad Commission hosts remote listening sessions every other month where subcontractors can influence regulatory decisions and ask questions about permits, compliance, and operations.
7 months 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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