The maintenance industry is vital in our society.

But are employers in this sector adequately screening their professionals? This post will highlight the importance of doing just that.

Maintenance Workers and Background Checks

Every day, service and maintenance workers protect the country’s public buildings, airports, schools, and other structures. They focus extensively on keeping external problems at bay.

It’s equally important, though, to reduce the risk of internal issues. (That’s right: We’re talking issues involving the exact professionals who were hired to keep things running smoothly!)

So whether your candidates work in building maintenance or strive to prevent the breakdown of machinery—elevating uptime and productivity as a result—a proper screening program is essential.

The truth is that anyone who has access to your people, company property, and proprietary information should pass a background check before starting work. This is by far the best way for employers to eliminate internal threats.

What to Include in a Maintenance Background Check

Curious about what to include in a background check for maintenance workers?

While the specifics may vary based on the position and size of your company, the following components are an ideal place to start:

• Criminal records check

There’s a reason this is the most obvious thing to look into. In addition to those counties where the applicant has lived and worked, employers should screen their candidates’ criminal history nationwide dating back seven years.

This will let you in on everything you need to know about whether the applicant has been incarcerated, placed on probation, or encountered any problems with the law.

• Driving history check

Looking to have the candidate operate heavy machinery or drive a motor vehicle? Then a driving history check is essential. Even if you don’t need the potential team member to drive on the job, the results of this check can be quite insightful.

From infractions and citations, to driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the results of a driving history check can offer a window into the candidate’s character.

• Social security number verification

No doubt that you want to make sure the applicant is who they say they are. What better way to do that than to complete a social security number verification check? This will authenticate the name linked to the social security number, and confirm where and when the number was issued.

This check uses credit bureau data and is extremely reliable. It can even be used to pinpoint discrepancies in the candidate’s address history.

• Employment and education verification

The unfortunate truth is that some applicants falsify their resumes. This is where verifying their previous positions and earned degrees comes in. By doing so, you will be able to evaluate whether the potential team member is trustworthy and confirm they’re qualified for the job.

You may also want to have candidates pass a pre-employment drug test to minimize problems down the road. Click here for more information on drug screening.

Ultimately, responsible maintenance employers recognize the importance of background checks. A thorough screening program is an investment in the safety of fellow team members, company property, and the organization’s bottom-line. Don’t overlook it.

Build Your Maintenance Employee Screening Program

Interested in building a comprehensive background screening program for your maintenance staff?

Curious about the services we offer at Redstar Backgrounds and DrugScreenKits.com?

Our team can guide you through every step, so look no further if you’re hoping to build a thorough screening program for your maintenance staff. We’ll work with you to craft the exact solution you need—saving you time and money, and reducing turnover as a result.

Please contact us for details, or to set up a free consultation. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.