Part of NCMS’ contribution to compliance is providing data to operator qualification (OQ) management vendors. ISN, a global leader in contractor management, collects and reviews information related to health, safety and procurement requirements through its platform, ISNetworld®, to support performance evaluation and risk visibility. The complementary relationship between NCMS and ISN helps support workplace safety in the pipeline industry – but it’s easy to misunderstand.
Simply put, NCMS determines whether a drug and alcohol program is satisfactory, and ISN collects and reflects that information as part of a contractor’s broader compliance profile specific to each of their operators. To gain access to a pipeline site, both steps are essential.
So, how can operators and contractors best understand this exchange? The first step is identifying the core functions of each platform.
What Does NCMS Do?
NCMS monitors contractor drug and alcohol testing programs on behalf of operators. Through a diligent qualification process, NCMS oversees program framework to ensure that testing is pursuant to both Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and operator expectations.
To do so, NCMS:
- Conducts operator-requested audits
- Assesses audit data
- Determines compliance status
- Issues status to contractor
- Contributes to ISN’s grading process
Through this process, NCMS oversees program stability and helps reduce the downtime caused by an unsatisfactory compliance status.
What Does ISN Do?
ISN collects information such as training records, proof of insurance, incident documentation and more to support contractor prequalification and ongoing compliance visibility. In its ongoing role, ISN centralizes contractor information through ISNetworld for operator visibility.
As part of its contractor management services to operators that use NCMS, ISN:
- Imports NCMS status
- Incorporates NCMS statuses as a component of operator-specific “scorecards”
- Allows operators to source contractors from a centralized database
ISN brings relevant contractor data together in one place to support operator evaluation and decision making.
How Do They Work Together?
NCMS serves as a specialized provider generating data on drug and alcohol testing programs through a fine-tuned auditing process. When working with an operator that uses NCMS, ISN includes these drug and alcohol testing statuses as one input in an overview of information about a contractor. From there, it’s up to the operators to make decisions on contractor alignment.
As it relates to an operator’s hiring decision:
Function Platform
Audit execution → NCMS
Data Aggregation → ISNetworld
Qualification Visibility → ISNetworld
Hiring Decision → Operator
Who Is in Charge of What?
While the two programs serve very different purposes, their symbiosis can cause common points of confusion.
- Who do I contact when there’s a problem?
For issues with drug and alcohol testing programs, NCMS is the right point of contact. ISN can help with any questions regarding your ISNetworld account or status for your operators(s).
- Who determines the requirements?
The DOT and operators determine the requirements. NCMS structures programs to align with both DOT minimums and operator-specific standards. ISNetworld reflects applicable data and compliance statuses that are filtered through operator requirements.
- How do I know if I need an NCMS audit?
NCMS audits may be required by operator clients to verify the compliance of specific contractors. If a contractor reaches out to NCMS asking if they need to be audited, NCMS will go through the operator for confirmation. Once confirmation is received, the audit process can begin.
- If I’m marked as compliant with NCMS, why am I not cleared with ISNetworld?
NCMS compliance indicates that a drug and alcohol program is being run and following DOT regulations. Such compliance, however, is only one of many data points that may be tracked in ISNetworld to ensure overall compliance with your operator’s requirements of its contractors.
- I have completed my NCMS audit – why has my ISNetworld grade not been updated?
Most often, this is a timing issue. The data transfers from NCMS to ISNetworld are not instantaneous. Recently completed audits will likely be reflected in ISNetworld after processing, often within 1-2 days.
A Layered Approach to Compliance
Filtering hiring decisions through multiple platforms helps promote workplace safety, which is at the core of what we do at NCMS. By coordinating with systems such as ISNetworld, we reinforce our commitment to operator support and alignment with industry best practices.
