Summary
COR is an accreditation program for health and safety at work premises that confirms a highly integrated security and control structure that satisfies federal criteria. The goals of COR are to provide effective methods to employers for developing, implementing, assessing, and promoting the continuous development of their health and safety management system in order to prevent or minimize incidents and related social and financial expenses (The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations). The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA) has registered, approved, and trademarked COR countrywide. It is also received through member organizations that have an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to function as the Authority Having Jurisdiction to grant COR in their corresponding region.
Each CFCSA affiliate organization provides COR Certification to companies, supervises program compliance, and serves as a business’s primary contact for all operational strategies of COR in their local region. Within each individual COR certification program, CFCSA member associations have the opportunity to introduce different standards relevant to their sector, area, or part of the country (The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations). The Authority Having Jurisdiction in each of the regions in which the firm works must provide COR. Firms that have acquired COR and want to claim equivalency in another location can do so through a simplified process.
A COR is for companies with ten or more workers. In order to obtain a COR, the employer must contract an independent auditor to examine the health and safety management system, and the assessment must then be verified by the Certifying Partner (The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations). Companies that fulfill specified occupational safety and health management criteria or have established a return-to-work plan for injured employees are eligible for premium credits under COR programs.
Value of a COR to a Company
Companies may prove to construction clients that their health and safety management system has been established, maintained, and assessed on a yearly basis through extensive audits and reviews by attaining COR. Surveys, documentation reviews, and direct observations are commonly used in inspections to examine how effectively the company is able to detect, evaluate, and control hazards to employees (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, COR 2020). COR’s audit criteria are accepted by industries across Canada. As a result, the organization will be a part of a national system that participates in and promotes health and safety quality.
There are a lot of benefits for companies with official COR. Participation in COR is advantageous in situations when the organization must prove that it has an effective health and safety management system. Companies that are recognized in the COR program may be eligible for job positions ahead of others (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, COR 2020). Moreover, construction clients might seek COR from contractors negotiating on work to increase their confidence in the firm’s health and safety performance.
Additionally, it is always prudent to ensure the safety and health of all employees. A proactive strategy to decrease occupational injuries is the practical construction and management of the health and safety system. The professional image of a company will improve in the professional field and community (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, COR 2020). More importantly, dedication to a good safety policy will recruit safety-conscious employees. As a result, giving quick confirmation that the company has a successful health and safety system will provide the business with a competitive advantage. Construction clients may be specific that the company will bring exceptional safety practices to the worksite.
Values of ISO 45001 and CSA Z1000
Lives are lost daily as a result of workplace incidents or deadly diseases connected to work tasks. These are the fatalities that can and must be avoided in the future. Therefore, there are specific standards for companies that provide guidance. For example, ISO 45001 and CSA Z1000 intend to assist enterprises in reaching precisely the objective of protection and incidents avoidance. Better productivity results from ensuring that employees work in environments that promote openness and trust throughout their operations and supply chain. Furthermore, responsible behavior is becoming more vital for companies and brands.
The latest ISO standard for workplace health and safety is ISO 45001. It has become one of the most widely anticipated standards and requirements worldwide, and it is expected to enhance worker safety significantly. As the world’s first International Standard handling occupational health and safety management systems, ISO 45001 provides a single, specific guideline for all companies trying to enhance their occupational health and safety performance (International Organization for Standardization). It is aimed at a firm’s senior management and attempts to produce a safe and healthful environment for workers and visitors. In order to do this, it is critical to regulate all elements that may cause disease, damage, and, in extreme situations, death by reducing detrimental impacts on a patient’s overall psychological and physical state – and ISO 45001 addresses all of these concerns.
Furthermore, CSA Z1000 was created to assist businesses in improving their work health and safety products and minimizing work-related injuries, diseases, and deaths. It is the foundation of the OHS regulations, which cover training, risk assessments, risk mitigation, occupational ergonomics, and other essential areas using the Plan-Do-Check-Act Model to help construct a more successful Occupational Health & Safety Control System (CSA Group). Along with danger minimization, hazard identification, and evaluation, there is the idea of residual risk, which is defined as the danger that remains after all measures have been applied.
An Example of a Company that Successfully Achieved COR
The COR program was established in Alberta almost two decades ago. Despite the fact that the majority of COR enterprises are in the construction industry, the norm is adopted by key industries in Alberta and British Columbia. ‘Authority with Jurisdiction’ to issue COR in the province of Ontario is the IHSA. As of December 10, 2021, there are officially 544 firms on IHSA’s COR list (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, COR Certified).
Aecon, one of North America’s most significant and varied infrastructure and construction development firms, is among the companies on the list. Aecon and its affiliates offer services to commercial and public sector customers in Canada, as well as on a limited basis worldwide (Aecon Group Inc). The Infrastructure Health & Safety Association honored this firm with a Certificate of Recognition in Ontario in 2012 (Aecon Group Inc). The introduction of the COR Ontario accreditation to Aecon’s COR in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia demonstrates Aecon’s dedication to the fundamental principle of “Safety First” and to be a market leader in Health and Safety.
Works Cited
Aecon Group Inc. “Aecon Receives National Safety Award and Routly Safety Award.” AECON, 2013, Web.
CSA Group. “CSA Z1000:14 (R2019).” CSA Group, 2021, Web.
Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. “COR Certified.” IHSA, 2021, Web.
Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. “CORTM2020.” IHSA, Web.
International Organization for Standardization. “ISO 45001.” ISO, 2018, Web.
The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations. “COR (Certificate of Recognition).” CFCSA, Web.