Other providers offer a subscription or off-the-shelf product. Members of Veriforce receive a service and are a part of a coalition of operators that work together to preserve the integrity of the process. Veriforce offers a platform that allows operators to exchange current OQ and DOT Regulatory information.

Yes, Veriforce has the ability to administer Custom or Common OQ Plans and Covered Tasks Lists. We are able to administer customization without leaving the operator isolated. We audit the entire pool of contractors and evaluators shared by Veriforce members. DOT findings are commonly shared among the coalition of operators. The sharing of real-time regulatory information protects our operators and improves the preparation for DOT audits.

Veriforce will work with you to draft an OQ plan complete with all required components, covered task identification, evaluation criteria, accompanying procedures, and other resources to help manage your OQ program. Veriforce-developed programs have successfully withstood regulatory scrutiny at state and federal levels. They are built on best practices learned from other operators and enforcement experience combined with our expertise.

Veriforce offers Contractor Safety Management Services offering Operators an easy and intelligent connection to compile, evaluate, and view contractor information.

Veriforce is helping Operators easily choose the right Contractors; ones that meet their established safety requirements. It can be a challenge for Operators to easily identify the right Contractor for construction and maintenance projects, so we’ve built a safety program that allows Operators to manage what is important to their business. Operators can choose between our newly improved safety services or our enhanced safety management services.

Contractor Safety Management Services Include:

Contractor Safety Manuals Review

• Contractor self-review of safety manuals vs. OSHA requirements.
• Verification of manuals by expert Veriforce Audit Teams.
• Ability to add operator specific requirements.
• Contractor safety manuals link to OQ tasks.
• Default safety manual to work type matrix for easy start-up.

Contractor Questionnaires

• Contractor safety scoring and ranking.
• Hundreds of safety questions to choose from.
• Customize and/or add your own questions.

Direct Access to OSHA Database

• Fully detailed OSHA inspection reports.
• View contractor responses to OSHA inspection reports.
• Latest OSHA data added regularly.

Veriforce already has a transition conversion system in place so operators and contractors can keep working throughout the conversion process. We have completed the process many times so you can be sure it will be done at the highest level of integrity with the least amount of disruption to you business.

It is proposed ASME standard that provides general and specific requirements for the qualification of pipeline personnel. The implementation of this standard is intended to minimize pipeline failures caused by human error. This standard does not impose a requirement to perform specific tasks that affect the safety or integrity of the pipeline. It does, however, set the requirements for qualification of individuals in the event these types of tasks are performed. This standard establishes the requirements for identifying covered tasks that impact the safety or integrity of pipelines, for qualifying individuals to perform those tasks, and for managing the qualifications of pipeline personnel.

Only pipeline operators are covered under the OQ rule. The qualification of individuals performing covered tasks who are employed by contractors is the responsibility of the operator(s). Veriforce assists its operator clients by administrating their contractor OQ programs.

Only pipeline operators can determine what covered tasks will be required of workers, contractors, and subcontractors working on their pipeline.

Yes, Veriforce audits and documents the status of contractor qualifications so operators are confident that the contractors working on their pipelines are qualified. This process gives our operators the ability to defend the qualification status to DOT Regulators.

Through the Veriforce database system (VeriSource), the operator and/or contractor can obtain a Field Verification Report (FVR) which includes identifying information and current qualifications. This then can be presented to the field personnel to verify proper qualifications.

Veriforce collects and reviews drug and alcohol plans from your contractors to ensure that they are up to date and cover all of the regulatory requirements. Veriforce also collects the last five years of testing statistics to document that testing has been occurring and to document that the contractor has met the required annual testing percentage. Additionally Veriforce collects the following semi-annually:

• A current covered employee list showing who is in the contractor’s testing pool, pre-employment test, and background check information;
• A current supervisor training list showing who in the company has received the required training to make reasonable suspicion decisions:
• Statistical data reports that show the testing that the contractor has conducted in the last six months including types of tests, negatives, positives including drug(s) the test was positive for and disposition of the employee (not hired, rehabilitation,…), refusals, and cancelled tests.

Veriforce also conducts on-site field audits of contractor’s drug and alcohol programs at your request to ensure that all aspects of the program meet regulatory requirements.

To become an authorized evaluator, personnel must complete an evaluator application, obtain three technical references (for task categories requested), two character references and complete the evaluator training program. There is a fee for this authorization and must be renewed annually. Individual operator qualification programs may have different requirements for internal evaluators.

By conducting audits, at an established rate, of qualified individuals and authorized evaluators, this data allows the operators to evaluate the effectiveness of their OQ programs. Frequent communication with operators and contractors allows for Veriforce to change the qualified status of individuals immediately in the cases of improper performance and/or incidents/accidents, as defined by PHMSA. All documentation is also passed through a QA/QC.

Yes, Veriforce offers Fatigue Awareness online training for controllers and supervisors. The online modules are now available for use through the Veriforce database system (VeriSource). Fatigue awareness modules include:

• Fatigue Mitigation Awareness Training modules (one for controllers and one for their
  supervisors).
• Downloadable family take home pamphlets.
• Downloadable fatigue safety board posters.

NFPA 56 applies to fire and explosion prevention during cleaning and purging activities for new and existing flammable gas piping found in electric-generating plant, industrial, institutional and commercial applications. Coverage of piping systems shall extend from the point of delivery to the gas-consuming equipment isolation valve.

This standard provides minimum safety requirements for the cleaning and purging of flammable gas piping systems, including cleaning new or existing piping systems, purging piping systems into service, and purging piping systems out of service.

Veriforce provides the tools needed to efficiently implement NFPA 56 training, qualification, and documentation requirements. We provide a solid solution for Owners/Operators and Contractors to work together with easy access for sharing documents, records, and resources.

SEMS programs must:

• Address not only 30 CFR 250 Subpart “O” requirements but all job duties for all personnel except domestic services as defined in Subpart S. Ensure that suitably trained and qualified personnel (including Contractors) are employed to carry out all aspects of the safety and environmental management program.
• Establish and implement a training program enabling all personnel (including Contractors) to perform their job duties safely and in a manner which provides for protection of the environment.

All operations in the Gulf of Mexico must have a SEMS program in place by 15 November 2011, with an audit to follow within two years of implementation. Veriforce provides the tools needed to efficiently implement SEMS training, qualification, and documentation requirements. We provide a solid solution for Operators and Contractors to work together with easy access for sharing documents, records, and resources.

Welders that perform welding on pipelines need to be qualified to standards such as in API 1104 and ASME Section IX. Veriforce provides the methodology and expertise your organization needs to effectively manage and maintain your Welder Certification Program for internal welders and/or contract welders. Veriforce tracks all destructive and non-destructive testing related to welding and works with Operators to incorporate specific rules to meet their welding qualification requirements.

Click here to view Elite Evaluator Program

Click here to view Veriforce Privacy Policy

Click here to view Veriforce ISMS Policy