Energy Company Partners with Veriforce to Improve Management of Contractor Safety

The Challenge

For this energy company, one of the country’s largest producers and transporters of energy, safety is the number one core value. A manager of Gas Safety and Training underscored the company’s attitude: “We want our workers to go home the same way they came to work – with no injuries – each and every day.”

In addition to its ongoing business of supplying natural gas to millions of customers, the company is engaged in a long-term, multi-billion-dollar program to replace thousands of miles of bare steel and cast iron pipeline infrastructure. Throughout all of its work, the company takes pride in its continuing focus on putting in place robust safety programs.

An industry session on contractor safety, however, prompted the manager to consider that there might be a gap in their safety program. The speaker highlighted the importance of a company’s contractors when looking at efforts to improve safety. While the company rigorously followed operator qualification requirements for contractors, the manager realized they had very little insight into their contractors’ safety profiles. Gaining an understanding of contractor safety practices became the next safety improvement priority.

The Veriforce Solution

When considering how to get a handle on contractor safety, the manager had a clear idea where to look for assistance. The company already had an established relationship with Veriforce. They relied on VeriSource™, a compliance management software solution from Veriforce, as well as Veriforce services to help manage operator qualification and drug and alcohol programs. The manager reached out to explore what capabilities Veriforce could offer to manage contractor safety.

First, the company needed a solution that would enable it to collect information on contractors’ safety programs and performance for prequalification purposes and then track their safety status on an ongoing basis. It was also important to be able to adapt the company’s successful employee safety observation process for use with contractors. Through this process, supervisors observe employees on the job, actively coaching them on unsafe behaviors and commending them on safe practices – for example, taking the extra time needed to do things right.

Veriforce responded with a solution that met all of these objectives. With the aid of VeriSource Safety Compliance Management software, the company is able to provide its field inspectors with a safety observation checklist specifically designed for use with contractor personnel. Field inspectors can record observations, identified by contractor company and date, then upload their observations to VeriSource. By reviewing the observations, staff can easily spot recurring issues (e.g., failure of a contractor’s personnel to wear hardhats) and take appropriate corrective actions.

“I can see that the data we are able to collect in VeriSource will add valuable additional visibility in managing our contractor resources.”  — Program Development Manager, Energy Company

VeriSource also greatly facilitates the contractor onboarding process. Now, contractors that want to work for the company must first submit information on their safety policies, as well as statistics on their safety records. Through the contractor view of the VeriSource web-based application, potential contractors can easily see what they must submit, upload the required information, and verify that they’ve met all requirements.

Company staff can then review contractor safety policies, check for any OSHA citations, compare contractor statistics against company prerequisites (e.g., EMR of 1 or less), quickly determine whether a contractor meets all safety requirements, and identify which contractors have the best safety performance. For those accepted, the information submitted becomes part of the contractor profile.

In addition, active contractors are required to provide quarterly reports on their safety status. VeriSource gives the company a central place to track safety performance for all of its contractors, including the reports submitted by contractors and field observation reports.

“Along with environmental compliance, technical compliance, and productivity, safety is a key component of the performance metrics we have begun putting together on contractors,” says the program development manager. “I can see that the data we are able to collect in VeriSource will add valuable additional visibility in managing our contractor resources.”

Results

With these tools, the team can see safety trends, identify contractors with poor safety practices, and generally make better decisions. VeriSource also enables them to get a consolidated view of contractor status on OQ and drug and alcohol compliance, as well as safety.

The manager observed that the company and its peers in the industry are all very serious about contractor safety. “If your contractors are working safely, that’s an excellent reflection on your company and its commitment not only to your employees and customers, but also to the contractors themselves, and to the communities in which you operate.”

Technology has become a key tool for helping to fulfill that commitment. According to the manager,

“This has really opened our eyes to where our contractors stand from the perspective of safety. Plus, the processes we’ve put in place put contractors on notice that our company is serious about safety.”

With Veriforce support, the team looks forward to taking the safety program to the next level.

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This case study demonstrates how Veriforce helps organizations improve visibility, streamline contractor onboarding, and strengthen safety programs. Connect with us to learn how Veriforce can support your safety and compliance goals.