Are there specific WorkSafeNB requirements that apply to homeowners hiring contractors for basement underpinning work in New Brunswick?

When you hire a contractor for basement underpinning in New Brunswick, WorkSafeNB requirements do apply — and as the homeowner, you have specific obligations you need to understand before work begins.

Underpinning is one of the highest-risk basement renovation activities. Workers are excavating beneath existing foundation footings in confined, unstable conditions — exactly the type of work WorkSafeNB's construction safety regulations are designed to address.

Your Obligations as a Homeowner (Prime Contractor)

Under New Brunswick's Occupational Health and Safety Act, when you hire a contractor to work on your property, you can be considered the prime contractor if multiple employers or trades are working on the same project simultaneously. For underpinning specifically, this matters because the work often involves a structural contractor, potentially an engineer on-site, and sometimes a plumber or electrician working concurrently.

If you are the prime contractor, you are responsible for ensuring that a health and safety program is in place and that all contractors on-site comply with WorkSafeNB regulations. In practice, for most single-contractor underpinning jobs, the contractor assumes this role — but you should confirm this in writing before work starts.

What to Verify Before Hiring

The most important thing you can do is confirm your contractor carries active WorkSafeNB coverage before anyone sets foot in your basement. Ask for their WorkSafeNB account number and verify it directly at worksafenb.ca — this takes about two minutes and confirms their coverage is current. If a contractor is not covered and a worker is injured on your property, you could be held liable for compensation costs.

Also confirm the contractor carries general liability insurance (minimum $2 million is standard for structural work in NB). Underpinning involves excavating beneath footings in stages — if something goes wrong structurally, liability coverage protects you.

Underpinning-Specific Safety Requirements

WorkSafeNB's construction regulations require specific protections for excavation and confined space work, both of which apply to underpinning. Your contractor is required to have a shoring and excavation safety plan, and workers must be protected from cave-in risk at all times. Underpinning is done in sequential bays (typically no more than 1-1.5 metre sections at a time) precisely because of this risk — a reputable contractor will follow this sequencing without being asked.

Engineered drawings are mandatory for underpinning in New Brunswick. No legitimate contractor should proceed without stamped drawings from a licensed structural engineer, and your building permit application will require them. This is both a code requirement and a safety requirement.

Practical Steps Before Work Starts

Verify WorkSafeNB coverage directly at worksafenb.ca using the contractor's account number. Get a copy of their liability insurance certificate naming you as an additional insured. Confirm the structural engineer's drawings are approved and the building permit is issued before excavation begins. Ask the contractor who holds the prime contractor designation for the project — get that answer in writing.

Underpinning costs in NB run $30,000–$80,000+ depending on scope, so this is not a project where you want any ambiguity about safety compliance or liability.

If you're at the planning stage, New Brunswick Basements can match you with experienced local contractors who handle underpinning work — for a free estimate and to get the right professionals involved from the start. For the structural engineering component, the New Brunswick Construction Network at newbrunswickconstructionnetwork.com can also connect you with related trades and professionals.