A classification applied to incidents or near-misses where the outcome could have caused death or life-altering injury. Operators use SIF-P ratings to trigger mandatory investigations that subcontractors must participate in. Field crews are expected to identify and report SIF-P exposures before work begins.
Sif-P (serious Injury and Fatality Potential)
Related Terms
Psychological Safety
ComplianceA work environment where crew members feel safe to report hazards, mistakes, or concerns without fear of punishment or ridicule. For subcontractors, it reduces incident rates and improves site communication. Crews with high psychological safety are more likely to flag near-misses before they escalate.
Excavation Damage Prevention
ComplianceThe process of locating and marking buried utilities before any ground-breaking work begins. Subcontractors are legally required to call before you dig under provincial one-call regulations. Failure to comply can result in fines, project shutdowns, and liability for repair costs.
Airside
ComplianceThe restricted, secured zone of an airport beyond passenger screening. Subcontractors working airside — such as fuelling crews or ground maintenance teams — must hold valid airside passes and follow strict security protocols. Access is tightly controlled and non-compliance can result in immediate removal from site.
SIF (Serious Injuries and Fatalities)
ComplianceA safety classification used by operators to track incidents resulting in death or life-altering harm. Subcontractors are often scored on SIF exposure and near-miss rates during prequalification. A high SIF risk profile can disqualify your company from site access or contract awards.
Comparative Negligence
ComplianceA legal principle that assigns fault percentages to each party involved in an incident or loss. If a subcontractor is found partially at fault, their compensation can be reduced by their share of blame. Understanding this protects subcontractors from absorbing disproportionate liability on shared job sites.
Cave-In
ComplianceThe sudden collapse of excavation walls or trench sides onto workers below. Under provincial OHS regulations, subcontractors must implement protective systems before personnel enter any excavation deeper than 1.2 metres. Failure to comply can result in work stoppages, fines, and serious liability exposure.
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