HSE ADVISOR CANADA

COR Readiness Checklist

Before a Certificate of Recognition (COR) audit, employers can use this self-assessment to see how close their safety program is to passing. In Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario a COR audit needs 80% overall (about 26 of the 32 checks here), and every element has its own minimum: 50% in Alberta and BC, 65% in Ontario under the IHSA COR 2020 Program Guideline. Score the eight audit elements, then use the province table to find your certifying partner, pass mark and incentive.

How to use it. Tick each item your organization has fully implemented and documented, then total your score. Use the province table on page 2 to find your certifying partner.
To print: Click "Print" below → select Portrait orientation → enable Background graphics in print settings → Print.

Found gaps? We can help you close them.

HSE Advisor Canada is CRSP Certified, COR & ISO 45001 Lead Auditors. We offer gap analysis, documentation build-out and internal audits. The first conversation is free.

✆ (647) 620-5278 ✉ info@hseadvisor.ca → hseadvisor.ca/contact

Get the editable Word version

The PDF is free to read and print, no sign-up needed. If you want a copy you can edit with your company name, sites and contacts, we will email you the Word file. The full library is at Free HSE Resources.

We send occasional Canadian OHS updates. Unsubscribe any time.

COR Readiness Checklist

Certificate of Recognition · Pre-audit self-assessment

HSE ADVISOR CANADA
hseadvisor.ca

Organization:

Province / certifying partner:

Completed by:

Date:

1. Management leadership and commitment

OH&S policy is current, signed by top management, and posted
Safety roles and responsibilities are documented for all positions
Management actively participates in inspections, investigations, and meetings
Safety objectives are set, measured, and reviewed by leadership

2. Hazard identification and assessment

Formal hazard identification process covers all tasks and work areas
Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) are completed for high-risk tasks
Workers are involved in identifying and reporting hazards
Hazard assessments are updated when conditions or tasks change

3. Hazard controls

Hierarchy of controls is applied and documented for identified hazards
Safe work procedures (SWPs) exist for all hazardous tasks
Workers understand and follow established controls and SWPs
Control effectiveness is monitored and updated as needed

4. Workplace inspections

Formal inspection schedule is established (minimum monthly)
Inspection reports are completed, signed, and retained on file
Deficiencies are assigned corrective actions with due dates
Corrective actions are tracked and verified as closed

5. Qualifications, orientation and training

New worker orientation is documented and consistently delivered
Training records are maintained for all workers
Workers are competency-verified for safety-critical tasks
Training matrix is reviewed annually and kept current

6. Emergency response

Written Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is current and accessible
Emergency drills are conducted and documented (minimum annually)
Emergency contacts and procedures are posted at all work areas
Workers are trained on ERP roles and responsibilities

7. Incident reporting and investigation

Reporting procedure covers all incident types (near miss, first aid, LTI)
Investigations are completed with documented root cause analysis
Corrective actions from investigations are tracked to closure
Incident trends are reviewed regularly by management

8. Program administration

OH&S Committee or Worker Safety Representative is established
Meeting minutes are recorded and distributed to workers
OH&S program is formally reviewed and updated annually
COR documentation package is organized and audit-ready

Your readiness score

Total checks: / 32 (28–32 audit ready · 20–27 minor gaps · below 20 needs work)

In Alberta, BC and Ontario a COR audit needs 80% overall, about 26 of 32 here. Each element also has a minimum score, so a high total can hide a weak element. Record each element's checks below.

El. 1	El. 2	El. 3	El. 4	El. 5	El. 6	El. 7	El. 8
/ 4	/ 4	/ 4	/ 4	/ 4	/ 4	/ 4	/ 4

Approximation only, not an audit rule: on this checklist a 50% element floor (Alberta, BC) is 2 of 4 checks and a 65% floor (Ontario) is 3 of 4. Audits score each element in more detail. Treat any element below its floor as a gap, whatever the total.

COR Readiness Checklist · HSE Advisor Canada · Free to use and adapt.

hseadvisor.ca · (647) 620-5278

COR by Province and Documentation Checklist

Certifying partners, pass marks, incentives

HSE ADVISOR CANADA
hseadvisor.ca

Certifying partner, pass mark and incentive by province

Province	Certifying partner	Pass mark and element floor	Incentive
Alberta	ACSA (construction); other sector partners	80% overall and at least 50% in each element. Maintenance audits need at least 60% overall.	WCB Alberta PIR refunds up to 20%: 10% in year 1, then 5% for each year the COR is maintained
British Columbia	BCCSA (construction); other sector partners	80% overall and at least 50% in each element	10% of base assessment premiums for each classification unit the COR covers
Ontario	IHSA (COR 2020). Ontario-based firms certify through IHSA.	80% overall, at least 65% in each element and 100% on legislated items (IHSA COR 2020 Program Guideline)	Confirm with your certifying partner (IHSA)
Saskatchewan	SCSA; HCSAS	Confirm with your certifying partner (SCSA or HCSAS)
Manitoba	CSAM; MHCA	Confirm with your certifying partner (CSAM or MHCA)
Nova Scotia	CSNS	Confirm with your certifying partner (CSNS)
New Brunswick	NBCSA. Named pre-audit courses are required.	Confirm with your certifying partner (NBCSA)
Newfoundland and Labrador	NLCSA. Issues Letters of Good Standing, required to bid on government-funded construction contracts.	Confirm with your certifying partner (NLCSA)
NWT and Nunavut	NSA-NT	Confirm with your certifying partner (NSA-NT)
Yukon	NSNY	Confirm with your certifying partner (NSNY)
Prince Edward Island	No COR program	Not applicable. No program.
Quebec	No standard COR. CNESST runs mutuelles de prévention (employer premium-adjustment groups).	Pass mark not applicable	Set through the mutuelle; confirm with CNESST

A COR is valid for three years. Certification and recertification audits are external for most employers; small-employer programs differ (Alberta’s SECOR, under 10 employees, uses a self-assessment, and BCCSA’s Small COR, 19 or fewer employees, uses a qualified internal auditor). Maintenance audits in years 2 and 3 may be internal in Alberta and BC, and must be internal in Ontario. Alberta issues a 1-year COR to a new system with minimal documentation and history. Programs change, so confirm the current requirements with your certifying partner before you register.

Documentation checklist

Area	On file and current	Y / N
Management system	Health and safety policy; roles and responsibilities; evidence of management commitment
Hazard assessment	Workplace hazard inventory; risk assessments; control measures
Safe work practices	Job hazard analyses; safe work procedures; equipment procedures
Training programs	Training matrix; competency requirements; records management
Inspections	Inspection schedules; checklists and forms; corrective action tracking
Incident management	Investigation procedures; reporting system; trend analysis
Emergency preparedness	Emergency response plan; evacuation procedures; contact information
Statistics and records	Injury and incident statistics; performance metrics; audit records

COR Readiness Checklist · HSE Advisor Canada · Free to use and adapt.

hseadvisor.ca · (647) 620-5278

Want help applying this?

Our consultants (CRSP Certified · COR & ISO 45001 Lead Auditors) can adapt this to your workplace or review your safety program with you.

(647) 620-5278 · info@hseadvisor.ca · hseadvisor.ca/contact

COR Readiness Checklist · Version 2.0 · Reviewed October 2026 · HSE Advisor Canada. Free to use and adapt. General guidance, not legal advice.

Scan to contact us

General guidance, not legal advice. This checklist is for self-assessment only. Requirements vary by province and certifying partner, so confirm them with your certifying partner.