COR™ changes to align with Provincial accreditation standard
The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association’s Certificate of Recognition (COR™) has changed to COR™ 2020. A statement from the IHSA says, “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.”
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.
The changes in the accreditation program will help safe workplaces qualify for financial rebates and recognition available under two new provincial programs:
- Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers (SOSE)
- Health and Safety Excellence
This means by achieving COR™ 2020 workplaces are fully implementing an accredited Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS), recognized by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and the Workplace Safety Insurance Board.
The IHSA has outlined the changes in the new version of the program:
- COR™ 2020 has reduced its audit tool to 14 elements (down from 19) by blending some of the existing elements and reducing the amount of redundancy.
- New requirements have been added for the following:
• Procurement and Change Management
• Contractor Management
• Control of Documents
• Control of Records - The overall format has also changed in COR™ 2020. Organizations now have flexibility to tailor their program to best suit their needs while also meeting COR™ requirements.
COR™ 2020 aligns with “Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers”, 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.
The program is made up of two parts:
- Accreditation of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS).
- Recognition of employers who have successfully implemented an accredited OHSMS and meet other criteria set by the CPO.
The IHSA states, “If your organization is recognized by the CPO, you will be eligible for financial rewards from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).”
The stated goal of the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association “to improve the lives of Ontario workers. We provide the resources and training that control and eliminate safety hazards in work environments involving high-risk activities.”
The IHSA is recognized by the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board as designated trainers and consultants.
IHSA works closely with its industry partners and labour associations through its Labour-Management network, its industry-based Advisory Councils and its two Provincial Labour-Management Safety Committees and Section 21 Committees (construction and electrical respectively).
The Ontario General Contractors Association Leadership Conference will include a COR™ 2020 Open House. The event takes place Friday, March 6, at the Verdi Convention Centre in Mississauga. Registration is required.