Steps to get a COR (11+ Employees)
To be eligible for a COR, employers must demonstrate that they have impemented an effective health and safety management system by conducting and passing an audit using an approved audit instrument. An external auditor approved by Energy Safety Canada conducts the audit using an approved audit protocol.
TO ACQUIRE A COR, AN EMPLOYER MUST TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

- Alberta – WCB Partners in Industry Reduction
- British Columbia – WorkSafe BC Certificate of Recognition Program
- Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board
- Manitoba – Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba




If you have a comprehensive health and safety management system in place, the time required to complete an audit and have it reviewed by Energy Safety Canada could be very short.
However, if you need to develop a health and safety management system, the time required to complete the COR process will be significantly longer. You can make use of Energy Safety Canada's training and in-house expertise and/or contract health and safety professionals to create a health and safety management system
The more engaged you are with the COR auditing process, the more valuable the COR audit will be in improving your health and safety performance.
Standard Audits
- A review of the Energy Safety Canada Safety Audits and Certifications Outline of Roles and Responsibilities by both the auditor and company prior to starting the audit
- An on-site pre-audit orientation meeting with the auditor
- A review of key documents in your health and safety management system as well as a sampling of your records from the past year
- One-on-one interviews (approximately 35-45 minutes long) that include all levels of management, supervisors and workers.
- Site visits to confirm the findings in the documentation and interview phase of the audit
- An on-site post-audit meeting with the auditor
- A final written report that includes a strength and recommendations to help you improve your health and safety management system after the audit passes a quality assurance review by Energy Safety Canada
Energy Safety Canada COR Audit standards have specified timeline requirements. For companies that would like a COR by a particular date, audit timelines and submission dates should be negotiated with the auditor in advance.
Once you have a COR, you need to maintain it annually.
OPTIONs TO A COR STANDARD CERTIFICATION AUDIT
It is possible to receive all the benefits of the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program by using your existing corporate audits to achieve COR!
Benefits of the COR Program:
- Continue your growth as a leader in the industry
- Increase marketability by adding certifying your Corporate HSE system
- Annual WCB rebates
Option 1: PASE Application
The PASE process provides an alternative to conducting regular Certificate of Recognition (COR) audits for large employers with their own established corporate health and safety management audit systems and annual corporate auditing programs.
Option 2: COR Equivalency: ISO/CSA Certification
Employers certified to meet either the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards for occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems, are eligible to apply to Energy Safety Canada for Certificate of Recognition (COR) certification.
Please note: British Columbia is currently not participating in the ISO/CSA Equivalency Program.