COR™ Services and Assistance
The Certificate of Recognition (COR™) is a national accreditation standard that verifies full implementation of an employer’s Occupational Health and Safety Management System. COR™ is often used as a condition of contract by the public and private sector across Canada.
We at Safety First Consulting can assist your company with development and implementation of a health and safety management system that meets the requirements of the Certificate of Recognition (COR™) Program Standard.
By achieving COR™, your company will be better prepared to demonstrate due diligence and have a greater advantage when bidding on work in the construction industry. Your company will have a proven higher standard for health and safety in the workplace.
Safety First Consulting has assisted over 30 clients with their COR™ certification. We have demonstrated the highest success rate helping our clients achieve COR™ certification.
For more information about our COR™ Services, please contact us.
COR™ 2020, SOSE and Wsib H&S Excellence Program Services
Recently, COR™ was enhanced to COR™ 2020 in order to help interested workplaces qualify for financial rewards and recognition from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
How is COR™ 2020 Different?
COR™ 2020 has reduced its audit tool to 14 elements by blending some of the existing elements and reducing the amount of redundancy.
The overall format has also changed in COR™ 2020. Organizations now have flexibility to tailor their program to best suit their needs while still meeting COR™ requirements.
SOSE, WSIB H&S Excellence Program and COR™ 2020
Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers (SOSE) is a voluntary Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development program run by the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO). It promotes health and safety in the workplace and helps reduce injuries and illness. If your organization is recognized by the CPO, you will be eligible for financial rewards from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
COR™ 2020 is your roadmap to accreditation and achieving SOSE. COR™ 2020 will show you exactly what you need to build a successful Occupational Health and Safety Management System, accredited by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
Safety First Consulting can assist you with developing your Health and Safety Management System which complies with new COR™ 2020 Program Standard.
Safety First Consulting can also assist you with implementing an accredited Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) which meets the criteria set by the CPO.
We can also assist you to work through the Health and Safety Excellence Program while pursuing COR™ 2020 and receive rebates and financial rewards through WSIB.
For more information about our COR™ 2020, SOSE and WSIB H&S Excellence Program Services, please contact us.
COR™ Gap Analysis
One of the most important foundations of the COR™ program is ensuring that your health and safety management system meets the minimum legislative and COR™ program requirements. We at Safety First Consulting can assist with:
- Conducting a full gap analysis of your existing program, policies, and health and safety management system to determine areas of success and where improvements are required to meet COR requirements.
- Development of a customized health and safety program that meets the requirements of the COR™ program.
The COR™ Gap Analysis can also be done before the program is developed to see what areas you should allocate your resources to. It can greatly improve the success rate on your first attempt to get COR™ certified.
For more information about our COR™ Gap Analysis services, please contact us.
COR™ Program Development
After your gap analysis has been completed and it has been determined where improvements or changes to your program are required, we can help you work on these areas to meet legislative and COR™ program requirements. We at Safety First Consulting can assist with:
- Working from your existing health and safety program and updating it to meet legislative and COR™ program requirements.
- Creating a new, fully customized company-specific health and safety program to fit your needs.
During your health and safety program development, we will be in constant communication with your internal auditor and management team to ensure all your needs are addressed and taken care of.
A thorough health and safety program that complies with COR™ program is key to ensure your success.
For more information about our COR™ Program Development services, please contact us.
COR Internal Audit Services
Prior to the COR™ external audit by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), your company must complete an internal audit on your health and safety program to ensure that you are meeting legislative and COR™ program requirements. We at Safety First Consulting can assist with:
- Training your internal auditor on how to compete COR Internal Audit.
- Preparation and collection of documentation for internal audit submissions.
- Assistance with completing the COR™ Audit Tool and other associated audit forms.
- Assistance with conducting worker and management interview.
- Assistance with highlighting and marking documents based on COR Audit instructions.
- Reviewing and compiling audit package for IHSA review.
Assistance with developing corrective action plan (cap)
If there are any deficiencies identified in Internal Audit, Safety First Consulting can assist with developing and implementing Corrective Action Plan based on the Audit Report.
For more information about our COR™ Internal Audit services, please contact us.
COR External Audit Services
Safety First Consulting can assist you with your preparation for External COR Audit.
Our qualified COR consultant can come in as the mock auditor, perform all the tasks that the external auditor will do and give you a detailed report which can disclose to you whether or not you will be able to pass the COR™ external audit.
For more information about our COR™ External Audit services, please contact us.
COR™ 2015 to COR™ 2020 Transition
IHSA will be transitioning from the current COR™ Audit Tool (COR™ 2015) to the COR™ 2020 standard by 2025.
- December 1, 2021: All Initial Internal Audit submissions after this date must use the COR™ 2020 audit tool.
- October 1, 2022: All external audits after this date will be completed following the COR™ 2020 audit tool.
Organizations that are certified to COR™ 2015 can transition at anytime by completing the COR™ 2020 Transition Tool and submitting it to the IHSA for review.
Safety First Consulting can assist you with completing COR™ 2020 Transition Tool based on COR™ 2020 Program Standard.
For more information about our COR™ 2020 Transition services, please contact us.
COR™ Maintenance Services
COR™ is an ongoing process that requires consistent maintenance after the successful completion of the external audit and receipt of your Certificate of Recognition. For the second and third years, additional internal audits must be completed and submitted to IHSA for review. These audits must be successfully passed in order to receive a Letter of Good Standing and maintain your COR™ status. We at Safety First Consulting can assist with:
- Annual review of COR™ Policy, Program and Procedures and making necessary changes to demonstrate continual improvement.
- Monitoring completion of internal audit documentation.
- Assist your Internal Auditor to complete second and third year internal audits.
For more information about our COR™ Maintenance Services, please contact us.
COR™ FAQs
What is COR™?
COR™ is a certification, provided by the IHSA (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association) that a company’s health and safety management system meets a set standard. It is a three-year certification provided by IHSA, the only approved registrar in Ontario.
How does the COR™ certification process work?
The incumbent company successfully completes an internal and external audit following the COR™ standards and guidelines and is awarded COR™ certification. This step typically takes 12 – 18 months.
The certification is valid for three years. To maintain their COR™ certification the company must successfully complete internal maintenance audits in years 2 and 3, results of which have been approved by IHSA.
In year 4, the company must re-apply for COR™ program and follow the same cycle again.
Why would a company want to pursue COR™?
More and more buyers of construction services in Ontario require COR™ certification. These buyers include City of Toronto, Infrastructure Ontario, Metrolinx, TTC, GTAA, City of Brampton, York Region, City of Mississauga, etc.
Companies who are COR™ certified, demonstrate to buyers that their Health & Safety Management system is developed, implemented, and maintained. COR™ certified companies have a proactive approach to eliminating workplace injuries and illnesses and follow superior safety practices in the workplace.
Is specific training required?
Yes. Company Senior Management and the designated Internal Auditor are required to complete COR™ training. Refer to the IHSA for COR™ training requirements.
My company has multiple WSIB account numbers. Can I complete 1 COR™ audit for all accounts?
Each WSIB account held by an employer can independently achieve COR™ certification.
My company operates in multiple provinces. Can we use the COR™ certification from other provinces in Ontario?
COR™ certification must be achieved in the province where the company office is located. If your company has an office in Ontario and your company works in Ontario, the company must achieve COR™ certification through the IHSA in Ontario.
Companies who have an out of province COR™ and do not have a permanent office in Ontario, may apply for interim equivalency.
Why should a company consider a COR™ expert to help them?
COR™ experts at Safety First Consulting are very well experienced applying the COR™ standards and guidelines. We help set you up for success from the beginning of your COR™ journey, working with your Team to develop and refine your company documents, supporting internal training of your Team and helping to collect and catalogue supporting evidence of compliance.
What has changed with COR 2020?
COR™ 2020 has 14 elements, reduced from 19 in COR™ 2015, by blending some of the existing elements and reducing the amount of redundancy. The overall format has also changed in COR™ 2020.
The following new requirements have been included:
- Procurement and Change Management
- Contractor Management
- Control of Documents
- Control of Records
What is a COR™ 2020 Gap analysis?
The full gap analysis that will be performed by our consultants consists of:
- Reviewing your company’s health and safety program, section by section.
- Reviewing supplementary documentation and H&S Forms.
- Confirming areas of compliance with health and safety legislation and COR™ program requirements.
- Identifying areas of deficiency.
- Preparing Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to rectify identified deficiencies.
How can the COR™ GAP ANALYSIS help?
The completion of the gap analysis can assist you with working towards COR™ Certification by:
- Identifying existing areas of success in your health and safety management system.
- Identifying areas where improvement efforts may be focused.
How can Safety First Consulting help a company achieve COR™ Certification ?
The Safety First Team can assist your Team with:
- Development of COR™ compliant Policies and Program
- Development of site-specific Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)
- Development of site-specific Safe Work Practices (SWp)
- Development of site-specific Safe Job Procedures (SJP)
- Development of site-specific procedures for Occupational Health
- Employee training on COR™ Program and Procedures
How will Safety First Consulting help a company prepare for an external audit?
Safety First Consulting will assist you with conducting field visits to ensure all the COR observation questions are addressed properly.
Safety First Consulting will assist you to prepare your employees for external audit interview questions and answers.
