For organizations that rely on contractors, risk isn’t an exception -- it’s built into the model. What turns manageable risk into costly exposure are the blind spots: lawsuits, fines, insurance gaps, and shaken customer trust that can spiral into millions in losses. And as contractor programs scale, those risks multiply. Manual processes and one-off checks simply can’t keep pace with growth. The white paper Risky Business: Contractor Compliance and Liability in Field Service argues that the old playbook -- one-time background checks and manual folders -- no longer suffices. Compliance must be continuous, data-driven, and embedded in daily operations.
From risky business to reliable workflows: seven contractor risks and how to mitigate them
- Trust at the door. Every visit asks a customer to open their home to a stranger. Expectations have shifted: strong majorities now expect background checks and visible photo badges, and trust erodes when those signals are missing. The prescription: thorough screening paired with digital badging that proves identity and qualifications in real time.
- Liability beyond the job. Contractors driving branded vehicles or entering homes extend your legal and reputational footprint. Without timely signals, incidents can escalate. Continuous criminal monitoring and alerts help leaders act before risk becomes liability.
- Safety as a legal and ethical duty. In safety-sensitive roles, gaps in training or oversight expose teams to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) penalties and human harm. Embedding safety training and maintaining auditable documentation are non-negotiable foundations.
- Substance abuse in hazardous roles. Drug and alcohol policies must be enforced consistently, with centralized tracking to ensure fairness and readiness for audits.
- Requirements that never stand still. Licenses and certifications change by state and specialty. Manual spreadsheets can’t keep pace; automated license tracking, renewal reminders, and audit trails prevent costly lapses.
- Insurance gaps that jeopardize contracts. One missed renewal can put agreements and claims at risk. Automated policy monitoring and pre-expiry alerts close the gap.
- The cost of a bad contractor or hire. Poor screening or weak oversight drains productivity and morale—and takes months to unwind. Combining pre-hire rigor with ongoing monitoring catches issues before they escalate.
From paperwork to peace of mind: what modern compliance looks like
The paper lays out a practical blueprint for everyday compliance—less paperwork, more proof.
- Background screenings – and ongoing monitoring. While most organizations conduct background checks, a single “point-in-time” result leaves long intervals uncovered. Continuous monitoring fills the gaps between re-screen cycles, drawing from criminal databases, registries, and driving records to surface actionable changes.
- Insurance monitoring. Contracts specify coverage; operations need certainty. Automated monitoring tracks expirations and flags renewals early, reducing the risk of job stoppages or penalties.
- License and certification tracking. From refrigerants to specialized equipment, credentials must be current and provable. Centralized, automated tracking keeps teams aligned with evolving rules and ready for audit.
- Badging and credentialing. Visible, scannable proof – such as QR-coded photo badges linked to verified profiles -- reassures customers and reinforces professionalism at the doorstep.
The underlying theme: when documentation is centralized, alerts are automated, and verification is real-time, compliance becomes a steady discipline instead of a vulnerable, high-risk scramble.
What to look for in a compliance solution
Not all compliance approaches are equal. The white paper recommends moving away from scattered point tools in favor of specialized platforms that deliver objective standards, near-real-time updates on regulatory change, and secure records that stand up in audits and litigation. Integration with field service systems is essential to eliminate blind spots.
Key capabilities include: seamless connections to dispatch and workforce systems; continuous background checks (not just periodic reviews); real-time monitoring and reporting; proven accuracy and regulatory alignment; access to deep criminal, financial, and licensing data; and secure photo badging with credential verification.
Why integration matters now
The paper is unequivocal: manual processes or juggling separate tools for screenings, insurance, and licensing invite gaps and rework and increase risk. An integrated, end-to-end approach delivers consistency, accuracy, and speed -- and scales.
The ServicePower + PlusOne Solutions partnership is presented as a model, combining background screening and monitoring, automated insurance and license management, credentialing and photo badging, while providing native ties into field service operations such as scheduling and dispatch. The goal: a contractor network that’s qualified, credentialed, and continuously compliant -- so every arrival at the door meets the highest standard of safety, professionalism, and trust.
Compliance is no longer a form you file; it’s a workflow you run every day. By operationalizing screenings, insurance and license oversight, and identity proof -- and by integrating those controls directly into field operations -- organizations trade “risky business” for reliable, auditable, customer-ready service.