Surface Transportation Reauthorization

An annual awareness campaign held each June to reduce excavation and trenching fatalities. Subcontractors working ground-disturbance scopes should expect increased client audits and safety documentation requests. Use this period to verify crew certifications and review site-specific trench protection plans.

The ability to identify workplace dangers before work begins or conditions change. Subcontractors are often held responsible for recognising hazards on client-controlled worksites. Failure to document recognised hazards can create serious liability exposure.

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.

Electrical switchgear and distribution equipment operating between 1 kV and 35 kV, commonly found on industrial sites and large construction projects. Subcontractors working near or on this equipment typically require specialised high-voltage certifications and site-specific safety training. Improper handling can trigger serious liability and compliance issues for your crew.

A trench safety method where excavation walls are cut at a gradual angle to prevent collapse. Subcontractors must apply correct slope ratios based on soil type and provincial regulations. Non-compliance can halt work and trigger serious liability.

A contractual obligation where one party agrees to cover another's losses, claims, or legal costs. For subcontractors, indemnification clauses often require you to absorb liability even for an operator's own negligence. Always have legal counsel review these clauses before signing.

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.