Temporary support structures used to stabilise trenches, excavations, or buildings during construction or repair work. Subcontractors are often required to install shoring before crews can safely enter a dig site. Proper shoring is a regulated safety requirement and failure to comply can result in work stoppages or liability.
Shoring
Related Terms
Indigenous Procurement
ComplianceA requirement by project owners to source goods and services from Indigenous-owned businesses. Subcontractors on major oil & gas or construction projects may need to meet minimum Indigenous spend targets. This can affect how you select suppliers, vendors, and labour providers on site.
Confined Space Certification
ComplianceA mandatory credential confirming workers are trained to enter and work in enclosed or restricted areas such as tanks, vessels, or excavations. Subcontractors must hold valid certification before site access is granted on most oil and gas and construction projects. Expired certificates can result in worker removal, project delays, or contract penalties.
811 (call Before You Dig)
ComplianceA free national service requiring subcontractors to notify utility companies before any ground disturbance. Utilities mark underground lines within 48–72 hours, reducing strike risk. Non-compliance can result in serious liability, fines, and project shutdowns.
DOL (Department of Labour)
ComplianceThe U.S. federal agency that enforces wage, hour, and worker classification laws affecting subcontractors. It oversees rules on overtime pay, prevailing wages, and employee vs. contractor status. Non-compliance can trigger audits, back-pay orders, and significant penalties.
Stop-Work Order
ComplianceA formal directive halting all or part of a worksite operation due to a safety, contractual, or regulatory concern. Subcontractors must comply immediately, regardless of who issues it. Downtime caused by a stop-work order may affect billing, crew scheduling, and contract timelines.
MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration)
ComplianceA U.S. federal agency that regulates safety at mines and quarries. Subcontractors working on mine sites must comply with MSHA standards, separate from OSHA rules. Workers may require site-specific MSHA training before mobilising.
Latest Compliance News
Michigan Pushes Back Enforcement of Updated Concrete Construction Rule to Sept. 21
Michigan OSHA will delay enforcement of its amended Construction Standard 25 for concrete construction until Sept. 21, giving contractors extra time to update formwork, shoring, and training procedures.
1 month agoComplianceTwo Traffic Plans, One Work Zone: Closing the Safety Gap Subcontractors Miss
Construction Executive breaks down why work zone fatalities persist even when signage and cones follow the rules, pointing to a disconnect between public traffic control plans and internal crew/equipment protocols.
2 days agoComplianceNYC Voids 2,000 Safety Cards After Training Provider Fraud Indictment
New York City is invalidating roughly 2,000 construction safety credentials tied to RedCode Inc. after prosecutors indicted the company and two of its principals for allegedly selling training cards without conducting the required courses.
4 days agoComplianceMSHA Alert Pushes Mine Operators to Step Up Impoundment Inspections
MSHA has issued a safety alert calling on mine operators to increase engineering assessments and inspections of impoundments, citing aging infrastructure and heavier precipitation events.
5 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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