The process of ensuring your company does not do business with individuals, entities, or countries under government-imposed trade restrictions. Subcontractors must screen clients, vendors, and partners against sanctions lists before signing contracts. Non-compliance can result in heavy fines, contract termination, or criminal liability.
Sanctions Compliance
Related Terms
Well Licensing
ComplianceA regulatory approval issued by provincial authorities before drilling or completing a well can begin. Subcontractors should confirm a valid licence is in place before mobilising, as work cannot legally proceed without it. Delays in licensing directly affect your crew scheduling and contract start dates.
Caught-In Hazard
ComplianceA workplace danger where a worker's body or clothing becomes trapped, pinched, or pulled into moving machinery, equipment, or materials — common on oilfield and construction sites where subcontractor crews work near rotating equipment, conveyor systems, or heavy moving loads. Subcontractors are responsible for identifying and controlling these hazards through proper guarding, lockout/tagout procedures, and site-specific hazard assessments before work begins.
Osha (occupational Safety and Health Administration) Variance
ComplianceA formal permit allowing a subcontractor to use an alternative method that differs from a standard OSHA regulation. It is granted when the alternative provides equal or greater worker protection. Subcontractors must apply directly and remain compliant with all variance conditions during field operations.
FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
ComplianceThe U.S. federal agency regulating commercial trucking and transportation safety. Subcontractors hauling equipment across the border or operating in the U.S. must comply with FMCSA rules. This includes driver logs, vehicle inspections, and carrier registration requirements.
Hazard Orientation
ComplianceA mandatory site-specific safety briefing required before subcontractor crews begin work on a new location. It covers site-specific risks, emergency procedures, and restricted zones. Primes or operators typically deliver it, and subcontractors must document attendance for compliance.
Surface Impoundment
ComplianceA contained, lined pit or pond used to collect, store, or treat liquid waste on a work site. Subcontractors working near these structures must follow strict handling and access protocols. Improper interaction with surface impoundments can trigger environmental compliance violations and halt operations.
Latest Compliance News
Canada Signs Deal to Pipe 1 Million Barrels Daily to Asia, Triggering Major Infrastructure Push
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have signed a pipeline agreement to move over 1 million barrels of Canadian oil per day to the Pacific coast for export to Asian markets, signaling a major construction wave for Western Canadian pipeline contractors.
yesterday ComplianceSenate Passes PIPELINE Safety Act as Industry Leaders Push House to Follow
The Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan PIPELINE Safety Act, reauthorizing PHMSA's pipeline safety program for five years. Industry leaders are now pressing the House to pass its companion PIPES Act of 2025 before reconciling the legislation for the President's signature.
2 days ago ComplianceAttorney Warns Construction and Trucking Industries to Act on Work Zone Safety Before Crashes Happen
A Miami-based injury attorney says predictable work zone dangers create legal responsibility for trucking companies and construction crews, not just accident statistics to acknowledge.
4 days ago ComplianceDisconnected Safety Systems Are Creating Hidden Risk in Field Operations
When incident logs, maintenance platforms, and ERP systems don't share data in real time, the gaps between them become a hazard of their own. Here's what field operations teams need to audit now.
4 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