Companies performing innovative work have security standards to protect their intellectual property—think biotech and high-tech. Others, like financial institutions and online retailers, go to great lengths to protect their customers’ data. In addition, government contractors working for federal agencies, like the Department of Defense or NASA, must comply with even more stringent government standards to protect national security.
When organizations like these need to build, expand, or upgrade high-security facilities, how do they ensure construction firms working on-site won’t compromise their security standards? The key here is to partner with companies who provide security-vetted tradespeople and contractors with enhanced security clearance. Organizations requiring the highest level of security clearance use four methods to determine if construction firms will be able to work with their vetting standards.
Certifications
During the qualification process, companies will require contractors to have certifications from third-party organizations. Certification verifies a construction company’s business practices, financial strength, training initiatives, insurance coverage, safety programs, regulatory compliance, and more. For example, hiring companies can use the ISNetworld platform to verify that member contractors meet their requirements.
Background Checks
Hiring companies will also require background checks for construction firm employees working on-site. In addition to verifying employee identity, companies like Sterling provide additional services ranging from drug screenings to researching criminal record history. The end goal is for hiring companies to mitigate risks associated with negligent hiring practices.
Safety Standards
A company’s safety record extends beyond its employees to include contractors working on-site. As a result, hiring companies want assurances that construction firms have and follow rigorous safety programs. In addition to 10- or 30-Hour OSHA Construction Training Certification, companies, including ISN, verify safety training, safety policies, and incident reporting to give hiring companies confidence that member contractors will operate safely at their facility.
Experience
A proven track record of working on projects with high-security needs reduces the risk associated with hiring contractors. Companies will hire firms they believe will be able to work with their security requirements and avoid firms that lack experience working in secure facilities.
Many of the measures that companies operating high-security environments use become “downstream standards” for construction firms working in these same environments. Third-party certifications, background checks, documented safety programs, and proven experience working on secure projects are considerations that hiring companies make when hiring construction companies. Additional government-specific security clearances may also be considered. The overall goal, of course, is to perform work safely and securely.
