diff --git a/uptime_service_validation/coordinator/coordinator.py b/uptime_service_validation/coordinator/coordinator.py
index 8a5096f..603bbfd 100644
--- a/uptime_service_validation/coordinator/coordinator.py
+++ b/uptime_service_validation/coordinator/coordinator.py
@@ -105,7 +105,48 @@ def __warn_if_work_took_longer_then_expected(self):
                 self.current_timestamp,
             )
 
+def load_submissions(batch):
+    """Load submissions from Cassandra and return them as a DataFrame."""
+    submissions = []
+    submissions_verified = []
+    cassandra = AWSKeyspacesClient()
+    try:
+        cassandra.connect()
+        submissions = cassandra.get_submissions(
+            submitted_at_start=batch.start_time,
+            submitted_at_end=batch.end_time,
+            start_inclusive=True,
+            end_inclusive=False,
+        )
+        # for further processing
+        # we use only submissions verified = True and validation_error = None
+        for submission in submissions:
+            if submission.verified and submission.validation_error is None:
+                submissions_verified.append(submission)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logging.error("Error in loading submissions: %s", e)
+        return pd.DataFrame([])
+    finally:
+        cassandra.close()
+
+    all_submissions_count = len(submissions)
+    submissions_to_process_count = len(submissions_verified)
+    logging.info("number of all submissions: %s", all_submissions_count)
+    logging.info(
+        "number of submissions to process: %s",
+        submissions_to_process_count
+    )
+    if submissions_to_process_count < all_submissions_count:
+        logging.warning(
+            "some submissions were not processed, because they were not \
+            verified or had validation errors"
+        )
+    return pd.DataFrame(
+        [asdict(submission) for submission in submissions_verified]
+    )
+
 def process_statehash_df(db, batch, state_hash_df, verification_time):
+    """Process the state hash dataframe and return the master dataframe."""
     all_files_count = state_hash_df.shape[0]
     master_df = pd.DataFrame()
     master_df["state_hash"] = state_hash_df["state_hash"]
@@ -254,11 +295,9 @@ def process(db, state):
 
     # sleep until batch ends, update the state accordingly, then continue.
     state.wait_until_batch_ends()
-    # Step 2 Create time ranges:
     time_intervals = list(state.batch.split(
         int(os.environ["MINI_BATCH_NUMBER"])))
 
-    # Step 3 Create Kubernetes ZKValidators and pass mini-batches.
     worker_image = os.environ["WORKER_IMAGE"]
     worker_tag = os.environ["WORKER_TAG"]
     timer = Timer()
@@ -270,7 +309,6 @@ def process(db, state):
         with timer.measure():
             setUpValidatorPods(time_intervals, logging, worker_image, worker_tag)
 
-    # Step 4 We need to read the ZKValidator results from a db.
     logging.info(
         "reading ZKValidator results from a db between the time range: %s - %s",
         state.batch.start_time,
@@ -293,54 +331,18 @@ def process(db, state):
                 logging,
             )
 
-    submissions = []
-    submissions_verified = []
-    cassandra = AWSKeyspacesClient()
-    try:
-        cassandra.connect()
-        submissions = cassandra.get_submissions(
-            submitted_at_start=state.batch.start_time,
-            submitted_at_end=state.batch.end_time,
-            start_inclusive=True,
-            end_inclusive=False,
-        )
-        # for further processing
-        # we use only submissions verified = True and validation_error = None
-        for submission in submissions:
-            if submission.verified and submission.validation_error is None:
-                submissions_verified.append(submission)
-    finally:
-        cassandra.close()
-
-    all_submissions_count = len(submissions)
-    submissions_to_process_count = len(submissions_verified)
-    logging.info("number of all submissions: %s", all_submissions_count)
-    logging.info(
-        "number of submissions to process: %s",
-        submissions_to_process_count
-    )
-    if submissions_to_process_count < all_submissions_count:
-        logging.warning(
-            "some submissions were not processed, because they were not \
-            verified or had validation errors"
-        )
-
-    # Step 5 checks for forks and writes to the db.
-    state_hash_df = pd.DataFrame(
-        [asdict(submission) for submission in submissions_verified]
-    )
+    state_hash_df = load_submissions(state.batch)
     if not state_hash_df.empty:
         try:
             bot_log_id = process_statehash_df(
                 db, state.batch, state_hash_df, timer.duration
             )
+            db.connection.commit()
         except Exception as error:
             db.connection.rollback()
             logging.error("ERROR: %s", error)
             state.retry_batch()
             return
-        else:
-            db.connection.commit()
     else:
         # new bot log id hasn't been created, so proceed with the old one
         bot_log_id = state.batch.bot_log_id
@@ -376,7 +378,6 @@ def main():
         password=os.environ["POSTGRES_PASSWORD"],
     )
 
-    # Step 1 Get previous record and build relations list
     interval = int(os.environ["SURVEY_INTERVAL_MINUTES"])
     db = DB(connection, logging)
     batch = db.get_batch_timings(timedelta(minutes=interval))