Locate the work
Identify every country, state, province or territory where people perform services.
Decision framework
Move from agreement language to a clear position.
Each step keeps exposure, insurance, evidence and authority separate.
Identify the employer
Map employing entity, payroll, supervision, worker type and subcontractor chain.
Classify the scheme
Separate social/public fund, monopolistic board, private policy and special federal/industry regimes.
Choose evidence
Use registration, clearance, certificate or targeted confirmation appropriate to the scheme.
Govern uncertainty
Record source, effective date, assigned reviewer and escalation for every mandatory or availability conclusion.
Decision matrix
Use the fact pattern, not the clause label.
These are routing positions. Actual policy, legal and statutory outcomes still require the appropriate qualified person.
| Signal | Why it matters | Working response |
|---|---|---|
| Private policy system | Carrier issues workers’ compensation/employers liability evidence. | Confirm jurisdiction, classifications, limits and special regimes. |
| Public/monopolistic system | Board or fund provides statutory benefits. | Use registration/clearance evidence; do not assume private EL form availability. |
| Independent contractor question | Status may affect duties and premiums. | Assess actual relationship under current local rules. |
| Work across borders | Home and destination systems may interact. | Confirm temporary travel and local registration/placement requirements. |
Applied example
Fictional scenario: installation across borders
Situation: A Canadian technology company sends employees to supervise a U.S. installation while a local contractor performs the physical work.
InsureClause path: The review maps the Canadian employees, U.S. work state, local contractor and subcontractors separately. It asks for current authority/broker confirmation on temporary work, private insurance requirements, employers liability and contractor evidence.
Boundary: No statutory answer is produced until the exact jurisdictions, worker roles and current authoritative sources are confirmed.
Review checklist
What a usable position should contain
- Every physical work jurisdiction is identified.
- Employing entity and worker relationship are known.
- Public/fund and private insurance pathways are separated.
- Special federal, maritime, construction or industry schemes are considered.
- Evidence matches what the scheme actually issues.
- Mandatory and availability conclusions have current authoritative support.
Editorial method
Practical, based on sources and clear about uncertainty.
This guide combines common commercial insurance practice with information from public authorities and regulators. The sources support the framework, but they do not create one legal or coverage answer for every situation.
U.S. Department of Labor workers’ compensation overviewOfficial overview and routing to state systems and federal programs.Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) construction clearancesOfficial Ontario clearance requirements for construction.WorkSafeBC Clearance LetterOfficial British Columbia registration and evidence of premium standing.
The product value
Bring the same structure into a complete contract review.
InsureClause connects the work, responsible party, exposure, insurance mechanics, evidence, wording and next step in one review.