CNR – Safety Verification
Passing bid prequalification historically was a static exercise – produce a Certificate of Insurance, OSHA 300 log and a binder of policies.
Today, liability-weary project owners don’t want to just hope you’re safe; they want data-backed proof without having to manage the administrative task.
This shift has fueled the rise of third-party verification platforms like ISNetworld, Avetta and Highwire, which weed out high-risk contractors before they ever step foot on a jobsite. To access work with many large clients, TPV compliance is now a gatekeeper — you simply cannot bid without it.
To contractors, these tools can be viewed as expensive, administrative hurdles. But, if you shift perspective, there are practical steps you can take to guide the evolution of your safety program and use your rating as a badge of honor to attract revenue.
After maintaining an “A” rating with ISNetworld for years, Wiegmann Associates was invited to participate in ISNetworld’s most rigorous program, RAVS Plus. Our journey offers a roadmap for contractors to navigate and leverage the complex and evolving world of TPVs.
Step 1: Reframe the Investment
Choosing to get the most out of TPV starts with identifying the why. You can do the minimum and engage with your TPVs at the basic level or you can see the value and aim for all it can offer.
While the administrative lift is heavy and costs significant, beyond serving the well-being of your team, a verified rigorous safety program has tangible commercial upsides — lower insurance premium, market differentiation and direct lead generation.
Step 2: Walk the Walk
Third-party verification has raised the bar, demanding that contractors prove their safety culture is active, understood and effective. A strong safety program is more than compliance. It is good business.
Research indicates that strong safety management is a proven business investment; 66 percent of contractors report that it improves their ability to bring in new work. The most direct financial benefit of a strong Total Recordable Incident Rate and Experience Modification Rate is better insurance terms, according to 78 percent of surveyed contractors.
Step 3: Turn Ratings into New Client Relationships
Hundreds of large owners now use TPV directories like a specialized Google search. But, visibility is only as valuable as your scores, which are both listed and filterable. If an owner needs an HVAC contractor in St. Louis with an A ISNetworld rating, he or she searches the database. Pulling up in search results can lead to a client relationship you wouldn’t have otherwise gained.
On a crowded bid, an “A” rating is a valuable differentiator that we proactively highlight in proposals, even when TPV is not involved. ISN also provides a badge that should be promoted on your website, proposals and more.
Step 4: Unlock Higher Benefits through Consistency
ISNetworld’s higher level RAVS Plus program is by invitation only. It looks for consistency because you will only “pass” if your safety program lives in the field, not just in the office.
Developing and executing your safety program based on the rigors of this process is a great roadmap to building a culture of safety.
- Do not rely on purchased “cookie-cutter” safety manuals. Auditors at this level spot generic language. Your policies must be customized to your specific scope of work. We create a baseline of competence that holds up under auditor scrutiny by customizing and regularly updating our policies and handbook mandating OSHA 30-Hour training for all field employees, project managers and supervisors to show adherence to new OSHA standards.
- Document continuous activity across staff levels. During the management interview, auditors often want to talk to an operations manager or field supervisor, not just the safety director. They want to know if the people running the work understand the safety rules. It is not enough to have a “Stop Work Authority” policy; you must prove it is exercised. In addition to onsite tool box talks and frequent jobsite inspections, we distribute a weekly safety email to all of our team to keep safety top-of-mind. Plus, this serves as important documentation during the audit.
- Collaborate to incorporate best practices. In addition to the prominent ways to stay current on safety regulations, we participate in an online contractor community to gain and give insight.
- Understand your safety culture. In the Plus audit, ISN sends surveys to your craft workers with questions like, “Have you seen a safety manual?” or “Do you report near-misses?” If your office manager says “yes” but your foreman says “no,” you fail.Don’t guess at the understanding and perceptions of your workforce. Engage with your field team to make sure they both understand and apply the principles of your safety program.
By keeping your records clean, training your field leaders and prioritizing worker well-being, your safety program and TPV subscription fee can be a valuable investment. Wiegmann has embraced scrutiny as an opportunity and has experienced the layers of benefit firsthand.
Dawn Bridges, CHST, has been Wiegmann Associates’ safety director for more than 20 years. You can connect with her via dbridges@waidb.com.