The periodic fee subcontractors pay to provincial workers' compensation boards to fund injury coverage for their workers. Premium rates vary by industry classification and your company's claims history. High premiums directly impact your labour costs and project bid pricing.
Workers' Compensation Premium
Related Terms
Leading Indicator
ComplianceA measurable signal that predicts future performance before problems occur. For subcontractors, examples include near-miss reports, toolbox talk attendance, and equipment inspection completion rates. Tracking these helps crews catch safety or productivity issues early.
TLV (Threshold Limit Value)
ComplianceThe maximum airborne concentration of a hazardous substance a worker can be exposed to safely during a shift. Subcontractors must verify TLVs for chemicals and gases on site before mobilising crews. Exceeding TLVs without proper controls can trigger work stoppages and regulatory violations.
Shoring System
ComplianceTemporary structural support used to stabilise trenches, excavations, or structures during construction or maintenance work. Subcontractors are often responsible for installing and inspecting these systems before crew entry. Proper shoring is a regulatory requirement under occupational health and safety codes.
ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association)
ComplianceA North American trade body that sets performance standards for personal protective equipment (PPE). Subcontractors should verify that hard hats, high-visibility vests, and eye protection meet ISEA standards. Many operator and general contractor safety plans require ISEA-compliant PPE on site.
Building Canada Act
ComplianceFederal legislation funding major infrastructure projects across Canada, creating significant work opportunities for subcontractors in construction and civil works. Projects funded under this Act often carry specific compliance requirements around labour, sourcing, and reporting. Subcontractors bidding on these projects must understand federal procurement rules and documentation obligations.
Private Utility
ComplianceA utility line owned and maintained by a private company or landowner, not a public provider. These lines may not appear on municipal locate requests, creating hidden strike risks. Subcontractors must request owner-supplied records before any ground disturbance.
Latest Compliance News
Red Seal $5,000 Completion Bonus Portal Opens Nov. 16
Canadian journeypersons certified in a Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025 can apply for a $5,000 federal bonus starting Nov. 16, 2026. Here is what employers should prepare now.
2 days agoComplianceTraffic Exposure Was the Top Hazard on Caltrans LA Tunnel Relighting
On Aldridge Electric's I-405/I-105 tunnel relighting in Los Angeles, traffic breaches drove the safety plan. Here is what electrical and traffic control subs can take from it before bidding live-traffic work.
4 days agoComplianceFinning Fined $155K After 2023 Loader Injury Near Fort McMurray
Finning International pleaded guilty to an Alberta OHS Code count after a worker was struck by a moving loader in 2023. The $155,000 creative sentence funds third-party-site safety training.
5 days agoComplianceMIOSHA Cites MDOT Over Lane Closure in Fatal U.S. 127 Crash
MIOSHA found MDOT failed to close a lane during a rolling pothole repair on U.S. 127 where two road workers died in May. Highway maintenance subs should review their own moving-operation traffic control.
7 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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