ISNetworld® RAVS explained: what it reviews and how to fix a failed review

RAVS stands for Review and Verification Services. It is the ISN® team that checks the documents you upload to ISNetworld® against regulatory requirements and your hiring clients' requirements.^[1][2] Reviewers look at insurance certificates, written programs, training records, and any other documents your connected hiring clients require.^[2] ISN® says RAVS results are "provided for informational purposes only."^[1] The hiring client makes the final call on whether you are approved.^[1] If a document fails, read the result details, fix the specific item, and contact ISN® if anything looks wrong.^[1]

What is RAVS?

ISN® describes RAVS as a set of services that compares contractor documents against "specified regulatory requirements and/or the specified requirements" of hiring clients.^[1] ISN® offers it to hiring clients as a tool for reviewing contractor qualifications.^[1] ISN®'s FAQ says the RAVS team reviews submitted information "to assess the accuracy, relevance, and timeliness of the data."^[3]

Two points matter for contractors:

• Each hiring client "retains ultimate liability and responsibility for determining the actual conformance of Contractors" with its requirements.^[1]
• Contractors "are solely responsible for ensuring full conformance with all applicable Hiring Client and governmental requirements."^[1]

In other words, a passing RAVS result does not mean you are compliant. A failing result does not automatically disqualify you either. The hiring client decides.

What does RAVS review?

ISN®'s RAVS disclaimer page lists the review types.^[1] For U.S. contractors, these include:

• Written programs. Health, safety, environmental, quality, sustainability, social responsibility, and other programs. ISN® gives you "information and guidance" on compliance with regulatory and hiring client requirements.^[1]
• Insurance (I-RAVS). Policy limits, insured parties, self-insured retentions, deductibles, carrier financial ratings, effective and expiration dates, and, if the hiring client asks, certain endorsements.^[1]
• General documents. Effective dates, expiration dates, certifying agency requirements, and consistent use of names, titles, and other terms.^[1]
• Supporting documents. Items such as written safety processes, inspection checklists, work permits, and hazard analyses. These are checked against hiring client requirements like company name and completion date.^[1]
• Training documents. Sign-in sheets, rosters, and computer-based training reports. Reviewers check course name, employee signature or name, training date, and instructor information.^[1]
• Training qualifications. Employee-level certificates, competency assessments, and training IDs. Reviewers check course name, employee name, and issue or expiration dates.^[1]
• Contractor licenses. State contracting license status.^[1]
• Experience modifier. Reviewed using the documents you submit.^[1]
• HSE performance data. Your reported injuries, illnesses, work hours, and NAICS code, checked against your OSHA recordkeeping documents.^[1]
• Regulatory agency data. Citations and enforcement actions found "through periodic searches of public databases" using the names and identifiers you give ISN®.^[1]

How do RAVS results affect my grade?

ISN® refers to "RAVS scores" but does not publish its scoring method on its public pages.^[1] Each hiring client sets its own grading. As one public example, Apache Corporation lists written programs, the safety questionnaire, fatalities, TRIR, DART, and EMR as its ISN® scorecard components.^[6] Apache also lists drug and alcohol status, MSA or contract, and insurance verification as mandatory requirements.^[6] Apache states that contractors "must maintain a passing grade of “A”, “B”, or “C” within ISN to remain on Apache’s Approved Supplier List."^[6] Your hiring clients may use different components and cutoffs.

Your questionnaire answers can also add requirements. ISN® says certain RAVS requirements are triggered by your MSQ answers, and it can take up to 24 hours for those requirements to show up and affect your RAVS scores.^[1]

Why do documents fail RAVS review?

ISN® does not publish a list of failure reasons. It does publish what reviewers check, so a document that is missing one of those items, or does not match, is a likely cause.^[1] Common trouble spots, based on ISN®'s own review criteria:

• Dates. Expired documents, or dates that do not line up with what the requirement asks for.^[1]
• Names that do not match. ISN® checks "consistency in the use of names, titles and other document terms."^[1] Supporting documents are checked for company name.^[1]
• Incomplete training records. A roster missing the course name, employee signatures or names, the training date, or the instructor.^[1]
• Certificates with no expiration date. ISN® says that if a certificate shows an issue date but no expiration date, its validity "will be based on a timeframe established by the Hiring Client(s)."^[1]
• Insurance gaps. Limits, insured parties, deductibles, carrier ratings, or endorsements that do not meet the hiring client's requirements.^[1]
• License data that conflicts. If outside data differs from what you reported, ISN® says "the industry recognized information may trump the Contractors’ self-reported information."^[1]
• Stale information. I-RAVS reviews are based on what ISN® had "at the time of the review," so later changes may not be reflected.^[1]

What are RAVS 360 and RAVS Plus?

RAVS Plus was ISN®'s earlier implementation assessment program.^[4] ISN® calls it its "historical program" and reports more than 20,000 RAVS Plus assessments over about 10 years.^[4]

RAVS 360 builds on it. ISN® says the purpose is "to gather evidence that written Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) programs are being implemented and put into practice throughout your company."^[5] Hiring clients request it.^[1] The assessment consists of a RAVS 360 interview plus training document and supporting document requirements.^[5] The ISN® team conducts the interview on behalf of all requiring hiring clients, and it is specific to your scope of work.^[5] ISN® says RAVS 360 engages "front-line workers to demonstrate knowledge over HSE programs and provide feedback on company safety culture."^[4] Hiring clients can "view results of the assessment and track contractor progress on open items within ISNetworld."^[4]

ISN® also notes that RAVS 360 "will not identify all hazards or deficiencies or assess the effectiveness of Written Programs."^[1]

If a RAVS 360 requirement does not apply to your work, you can claim it as out of scope.^[1] ISN® states: "A properly completed Claimed Out of Scope Declaration form must be submitted in connection with each Claimed Out of Scope Request."^[1] The hiring client decides whether the claim is valid.^[1]

How long does a RAVS review take?

ISN® does not publish a standard turnaround time for RAVS reviews on its public pages. The only timeframe it states is the up-to-24-hour delay for MSQ-triggered requirements to appear.^[1]

How do I respond to a failed RAVS review?

1. Read the result details. ISN® urges contractors to review the details of RAVS results.^[1]
2. Match the fix to the criteria. Compare your document to the items listed above for that review type.^[1] Fix the specific gap rather than rewriting everything.
3. Use ISN®'s free resources. ISN® says certified health, safety, insurance, and risk management professionals are available to guide customers, along with a help menu and recorded trainings.^[2] Through RAVS Assist, ISN® may provide sample checklists, templates, and videos to subscribing contractors.^[1]
4. Contact ISN® if a result looks wrong. ISN® says contractors "should contact ISN to report any concerns."^[1] Its Customer Service Team provides "live support 24 hours a day during the business week in more than 35 languages."^[2]
5. Upload a corrected or current document. Because insurance reviews reflect what ISN® had at review time, send updated certificates when coverage changes.^[1]
6. Claim out of scope where it fits. For RAVS 360 items that do not apply to your work, use the declaration form.^[1]

Frequently asked questions

Is RAVS the same as my ISNetworld® grade?
No. RAVS reviews feed into what hiring clients see, but each hiring client sets its own grading.^[1][6]

Does passing RAVS mean I am compliant with OSHA?
No. ISN® says RAVS results are guidance and are not intended to ensure conformance with regulations.^[1] You remain responsible for full compliance.^[1]

Are ISN®'s RAVS Assist templates enough on their own?
ISN® says these resources are general information and do not account for any specific contractor's requirements or activities.^[1] Tailor anything you use to your actual operations.

Do I need a consultant to pass RAVS?
No. ISN® provides customer service, certified professionals, a help menu, recorded trainings, and RAVS Assist resources to subscribers.^[1][2] Many contractors work through reviews with those tools. Outside help is optional. Some companies use it when they lack in-house time or safety staff.

Not sure why a document failed? Request a free compliance review through our quote form.