ISNetworld® or ISN® for short, is a contractor and supplier management system used to help businesses search, qualify, and hire contractors and suppliers according to the organization’s objectives, resources, and requirements. This site is designed to streamline companies and contractors compliance pre-qualification process.
There are many industries that may require a company to have an ISN® certification and be compliant within the platform. ISN® certification means that ISN® has verified contractors safety compliance data to qualify a business to work with various clients who require an ISN® certification.
*ISN® certification means achieving the highest grade possible with a hiring client.*
This platform is essentially an online version of prequalification paperwork. ISN® asks questions about safety practices, OSHA logs, safety manuals, and more.
ISNetworld’s® Importance
A hiring client may require a contractor/subcontractor to have an ISN® subscription to work for them. If the contractor/subcontractor does not sign up with ISN® they will most likely not be able to perform work for the hiring client.
An ISN® subscription is also important because it serves as a centralized platform to demonstrate a company’s commitment to safety and compliance standards. This platform allows company’s to gain access to larger projects and clients by proving their reliability and compliance with industry regulations.
Initial Letter
A hiring client will create a letter which is called the Initial Letter. This letter is sent to all their contractors or subcontractors who will perform work for the hiring client. The letter will state that the hiring client has a business relationship with ISNetworld®, and the contractor or subcontractor must have an ISN® subscription to work for the hiring client. The contractor/subcontractor will need to purchase the ISN® subscription and upload required information by a certain date, which is provided in the initial letter.
ISN® Subscription
When an ISN® subscription is purchased, the contractor/subcontractor must upload:
- Individual safety programs
- OSHA logs for the last 3 years
- EMR and insurance certificates
- And, other documents depending on who the client is
You also need to answer 800-2,000 questions. These questions come from the ISN® questionnaire or the Management Safety Questionnaire (MSQ). The amount of questions depend on the number of clients a company has connected to their account.
Cost
The annual subscription fees for ISN® are based on the average number of employees that your company has had over the past 3 years.
To learn more about ISN®’s pricing, visit their website, solutions, for contractor/supplier, and scroll down until you reach ISNetworld® Pricing.
Grading System
Once the requirements of the ISN® account have been uploaded and completed, a grade will be given in the format of:
- A
- B
- C
- Or, F
A or B is considered a good, passing grade. A C or F grading typically means the company may not be able to work for the client.
Each of the client’s in the ISN® account will have their own grading structure. Big items that you will be graded on include:
- How you answered the questionnaire
- If your safety programs passed the review
- Your company’s TRIR for the last 3 years
- If ISN® accepted the insurance certificate
- And, your company’s EMR number
ISN® Certification
There are a few steps to become ISN® certified. However, this process can be difficult and hard to manage; this is why finding a company that specializes in managing prequalification platforms, like JJ Safety, can be an essential tool. To become ISN® certified:
- Connect a client to the ISNetworld® account
- Complete the ISNetworld® account questionnaire
- Complete the safety programs (RAVS®)
- Submit documentation
- And, wait for the ISNetworld® review
Note: ISN® does not provide a certificate. The certification only means that you have the highest grade/score with your hiring client and that you are compliant.
Starting Your Account
When signing up for ISN®, click member sign-up. Once you click sign-up, you will fill out company information, contact details, and client information. Once this information has been submitted, ISN® will call the contractor to verify billing information. ISN® will then send an email with an invoice. Once the invoice is paid and processed by ISN®, they will send a follow-up email with a username and a link to create a password. After completing this step, the contractor or subcontractor can log into their ISN® account.
Completing Your Account
Once you sign into your account, the first step is to select your work types. You can find this under the “Company Information” dropdown on the sidebar. The “Work Types” section is used to describe the company’s activities or areas of specialization. Once you select work types, click “add work type”, fill out the information, then hit search. You can then select all work types that are applicable to your company.
After selecting your work types, make sure you have a hiring client added to your account. This is a necessary step to populate what the hiring client is specifically looking for you to fulfil, such as:
- Questionnaires specific to the hiring client
- Training that may be required
- Additional safety policies
- Insurance specific to that client
- Or, more
The hiring client needs to make a connection with you in order to pop up in your account. If they have not yet made a connection with you, you can request a connection on your home page by selecting “add client” and filling out the form.
Once there is a connection with the hiring client, fill out all the information on the side bar. This part may take some time and could delay work until the contractor has completed the necessary information and is fully compliant within ISN®.
Conclusion
Getting started with ISNetworld® is a great opportunity for businesses to streamline processes, boost collaboration, and improve safety and compliance. By leveraging the powerful tools ISN® offers, you can efficiently manage contractor performance, track key metrics, and ensure that your projects meet the highest standards.
If you are struggling with ISN®, give JJ Safety a call at 866-624-3850 or visit our website.