What is COR?
A Certificate of Recognition (COR) or a Small Employer COR (SECOR) is awarded to employers who have successfully developed and implemented a health and safety program that meets provincial standards. The COR certifies that the employer’s health and safety management system has been evaluated by a certified auditor and met the requirements as per the provincial standards. Certificates are issued by Alberta Labour and are co-signed by Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships (AASP). Achieving and maintaining a valid COR is required for earning a financial incentive through the WCB Partnerships in Injury Reduction program. Also, it is not unusual for Alberta corporations to expect contractors bidding on projects to hold a valid COR. To learn more about the history of COR go to the Alberta Labour website ( click )
Can an employer achieve COR with less than 12 months documentation?
An employer can submit an audit if they have at minimum 3 months documentation, the audit must be conducted by a Certified External Auditor. The company is still required to achieve 80% overall and not less than 50% in any element however a ONE-YEAR COR will be issued.
What is a SECOR?
The Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR) program provides an option for employers with 10 or less employees to develop a health and safety management system and achieve a Certificate of Recognition (COR) referred to as SECOR (Small Employer Certificate of Recognition). This program is specifically designed to meet the training needs of smaller employers.
A SECOR is issued to an employer whose health and safety management system meets the Partnerships standard. An effective system can support due diligence by the employer and result in reducing the social and financial costs of workplace injury and illness.
What is an audit?
An audit is a comprehensive and detailed review of the employer’s health and safety management system. The audit will typically cover the basic elements of a health and safety management system and will include interviews, documentation review and observation techniques.
Can a small employer achieve SECOR with less than 12 months documentation?
A small employer can submit a self-assessment if they have at minimum 3 months documentation. The company is still required to achieve 80% overall and not less than 50% in any element however a ONE-YEAR SECOR will be issued.
What is a health and safety management system?
A health and safety management system is a framework put in place by employers to manage risks, establish controls, and minimize the incidence of injury and illness to their workers. This is accomplished through identifying, assessing, and controlling risks to workers in all workplaces. The scope and complexity of the management system vary according to the type of workplace and the nature of business.
What are the steps of obtaining a COR?
Step 1 : Register with AASP
Step 2 : Get Trained
Step 3 : Implement Health & Safety Program
Step 4 : Get Audited
Step 5 : COR/SECOR Certified
What are the benefits of COR/SECOR?
- By achieving COR, employers are able to demonstrate that their health and safety management system has been developed, implemented, and evaluated on an annual basis through comprehensive internal and external audits.
- Audits will typically include interviews, documentation review, and observation techniques to evaluate how well the employer is able to identify, assess, and control risks to workers.
- The audit criteria used by COR are recognized by industries throughout Canada. Your company will be part of a nationwide network participating in and promoting health and safety excellence.
- In a situation where you must demonstrate that you have an active health and safety management system, participation in COR is an asset.
- Providing immediate proof that you have an effective health and safety management system in place will give your organization a competitive advantage, possibly allowing you to qualify ahead of others for certain jobs.
- Protecting the health and safety of all workers at all times is the right thing to do. Effective development and maintenance of a health and safety management system is a proactive approach to eliminating workplace injuries and illnesses.
- A firm’s corporate image and reputation will be enhanced within industry and community.
- Commitment to a strong culture of safety will attract safety-conscious workers, drive employee morale and engagement.
How much does it cost to participate?
Click here to find out more about becoming a member of the AASP.
What is conflict of interest for an auditor?
The auditor or a member of the auditor’s corporate group has not been employed by or been in a direct contractual relationship with the employer within the twelve-month period preceding the audit. Meaning, has not helped to build, estabilish, implement, advise, consult or help maintain the employer’s health and safety processes at any time during the twelve-month period preceding the audit. This criteria applies to conducting certification and recertification audits.
Internal Auditor Certification and Training
To meet the requirements of maintaining the COR, you must have a qualified A.A.S.P. Auditor complete a Partnerships audit and submit it to our office.
As an option for maintenance audits you can train someone internally to complete the maintenance audit instead of hiring an External Auditor every year.
If your company would like to train an employee to be become an Internal Auditor to perform your maintenance audits you will need to have them complete the following training.
- Module 1 – Guide to Develop an Occupational Health and Safety Management System
- 2 day Live Webinar or Online training session
- Pre-Requisite to Module 12
- Module 12 – Internal Auditor Training
- 4 day Live Webinar
Upon completion of the training the participant has 6 months to complete an audit to achieve their Internal Auditor Certification (this audit can also serve as the companies maintenance audit once it has completed the QA process). If you wish to register, go to https://www.aasp.ca/aasp-calendar/ and choose the Module 12 – Auditor Training course that you would like to attend and complete the online registration.