COR® applicant companies can use their BCCSA-qualified COR® internal auditor to conduct a Small COR® Certification Audit. To receive the certification, companies must achieve a passing mark – which means a minimum score of 80 per cent overall, and a score of at least 50 per cent in each element. According to Hsu, the BCCSA COR® audit tool specifically considers the industry they serve. It consists of a three-part evaluation of the effectiveness of a company’s occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). Specific documentation is requested and reviewed, observation is conducted on-site, and interviews are conducted with employees at every level – from workers, to supervisors, managers, and owners. Companies are required to demonstrate effective implementation of all aspects of their health and safety program – including their training program, inspection program, incident management program, and emergency response program, to name a few. Continual improvement is built into BCCSA’s COR program and audit tool – participating companies can demonstrate continual improvement through the various phases of corrective action plan implementation. For companies pursuing COR® Certification, Hsu says that “pre-planning is key!” “The length of time required to achieve COR® Certification will depend on the status of the contractor’s occupational health and safety management system,” she explains. “Recipients must have sufficient evidence to demonstrate the development and implementation of a functioning system that meets the 14 Elements evaluated by BCCSA’s OHS COR® National Audit Document. Some contractors may already have systems that meet all program requirements in place, while others may require additional time to develop a system or augment an existing system.” To support contractors pursuing COR® Certification, BCCSA offers a network of Regional Safety Advisors (RSAs), who are available to answer safety questions or concerns or assist in the development of a COR®-aligned safety program. BCCSA also offers a suite of safety training courses, including ‘Leadership for Safety Excellence,’ ‘COR® Internal Auditor Training,’ ‘Train the Safety Trainer,’ ‘Principles of Health and Safety Management,’ ‘Principles of Injury Management,’ and more. Construction contractors (sector 72) are eligible to access the RSA service and complete these training courses at no cost. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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