A Certificate of Recognition (COR) is a government-approved safety program that awards employers who develop a Health and Safety Management System that meets established provincial standards. It is often a requirement to qualify for contracts in high-risk industries such as construction and energy.

A COR is issued by the provincial governments in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan and are co-signed by a Certifying Partner. Recently the COR program has expanded to other provinces and territories but is offered by a limited number of Certifying Partners. In Alberta, the WCB Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) program administered by Alberta Human Services issues the certificates and they are co-signed by Certifying Partners.

To improve your current Safety Program and to raise safety awareness within your company. Your COR is a great Marketing tool and provides a competitive advantage. Most large oil and gas companies and prime contractors require their contractors to have a COR as part of their. Contractor Safety Pre-Qualification process. This is because they want to manage their own risks and they want to work with companies who have a proven safety program. COR certified companies have seen a 60% decrease in disabling injury rates since 2006. COR certified companies have seen a decreasing occupational fatality rate since 2006, compared to an increasing fatality rate for non-COR employers. In some provinces, employers who reduce their claim costs below predicted targets and achieve a COR can earn up to 20 per cent off their WCB industry rate.

There are 14 safety associations in Alberta that partner with WCB. Those representing the largest number of companies include: Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships Alberta Construction Safety Association Alberta Motor Transport Association Energy Safety Canada Manufacturers' Health & Safety Association

Put your Safety Program in place, train workers, implement procedures. Join the Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) program by completing a PIR registration form. One full year of records (Safety meetings, Inspections, Incident Reports, Investigations, Emergency Drills etc.) are required to qualify for a Three (3) year COR. A One Year COR may be issued when an employer is new to the COR program and their safety management system is less than a year old, however, the provincial governing bodies and the certifying partner must jointly approve a One Year COR. A Three (3) Year COR is the “standard” certification that involves a three year cycle. Year one involves a Certification Audit by an External Auditor. Years two and three require Maintenance Audits by a company certified Internal Auditor or by an External Auditor. Call Professional Safety & Audit Services for a certified auditor.

The timeline for a COR audit depends on your current safety practices and readiness. We work with you to ensure the process is as efficient as possible, with most businesses achieving certification in a few months.