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.

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.

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.

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.