Utilisation

A short-notice call-up system where operators request crews or equipment during peak production needs. Subcontractors on demand response agreements must mobilise quickly, often within hours. Rates are typically higher to compensate for the standby commitment.

Occurs when two unrelated companies — such as a labour agency and a subcontractor — are considered co-employers of the same worker. Both parties may share legal responsibility for wages, overtime, and labour standards compliance. Field service firms must understand this to avoid unexpected liability for workers hired through third-party staffing arrangements.

A business that generates revenue but has no paid employees — typically a sole proprietor or owner-operator. Many field subcontractors and independent tradespeople operate this way. Statistics Canada tracks these firms separately in labour and industry data.

The percentage of available hours that crews or equipment are actively billable to a client. A low utilisation rate signals idle resources eating into margins. Subcontractors track this metric to assess workforce efficiency and bid competitiveness.

A field worker employed on a fixed schedule of alternating work and rest periods, such as 14 days on and 14 days off. Subcontractors must account for rotation cycles when planning crew mobilisation and maintaining consistent headcount on site.

A pre-hire assessment used to evaluate how candidates respond to realistic workplace scenarios. Operators and prime contractors use SJTs to screen field workers for safety judgement and decision-making. Subcontractors may encounter these tests when onboarding crews for client-managed worksites.

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