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COR® is a voluntary certification standard that, through comprehensive internal and external auditing, verifies an organization's successful implementation of an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). Working toward COR® certification can help your organization develop a formal health and safety program and assess its effectiveness—driving positive workplace behaviour and practices that lead to a superior health and safety performance. Most importantly, COR® certification demonstrates to your organization's commitment to health and safety excellence.
The COR® standard is recognized across Canada and endorsed by the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA). In Ontario, a number of major buyers of construction require companies who bid on projects to be COR® certified.
The CFCSA recognizes the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) as the sole "Authority Having Jurisdiction" to grant COR® certification in Ontario. As of the end of 2025, we've helped more than 740 firms achieve this milestone.
COR® was first developed in Alberta more than 20 years ago. While the bulk of COR®-certified firms are in the construction sector, the COR® standard is adaptable to all industries and is currently used by major business sectors in Alberta and British Columbia.
Achieving COR® certification for your OHSMS validates your company's commitment to workplace health and safety. It also offers several other proven benefits.
Internal benefits
• Lower rates of workplace incidents, injuries, and illnesses.
• Reduced costs due to fewer workplace incidents.
• An OHSMS that complies with health and safety legislation, which can help your company avoid potential legal issues and penalties.
• Clearly defined policies and procedures that can be applied consistently throughout the company.
• Collaborative processes that help create a stronger safety culture and boost employee engagement.
• Better company-wide communication about health and safety objectives.
External benefits
• The ability to demonstrate that your OHSMS has been developed, implemented, and evaluated annually through comprehensive audits.
• A competitive edge when bidding for projects that require COR® certification.
• A positive corporate image within your industry and community.
• Your OHSMS will comply with national COR® standards, which are endorsed by members of the CFCSA.
The steps below can help guide you through the process of becoming COR® certified.
Step 1: Complete the COR® application form and submit it to IHSA.
Step 2: Complete the mandatory training courses.
A representative from senior management and one designated full-time permanent employee must complete prescribed training through IHSA. The training is intended to help the senior management representative understand and commit to the work involved in achieving COR® certification—and to prepare the permanent employee to become your organization's designated COR® internal auditor.
The required training courses are available in a convenient eLearning format.
Step 3: Complete and submit an initial internal audit.
Once the training is complete, your workplace conducts an initial internal audit of its OHSMS using the COR® Audit Tool and submits it to IHSA electronically.
Step 4: Complete an external audit
After your company has successfully completed and passed its internal audit, an external audit of your OHSMS is performed by a qualified third-party auditor. Once your workplace has successfully completed an external audit, you will be issued your COR® certificate.
COR® is valid for three years from the date of certification, provided that your workplace passes internal maintenance audits for each of the next two years.
