COVID-19: 2022 Certificate of Recognition (COR®) Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
As a COR® Certifying Partner (CP), BCCSA is in regular communications with WorkSafeBC regarding the administration of the COR® Program during the global pandemic.
BCCSA understands the ongoing challenges your company may be facing. Our COR® team is committed to working with your company to provide guidance on your company’s 2022 COR® requirements.
All 2022 COR® audits should continue to follow any orders and the guidelines as set out by the Office of the Provincial Health Officer.
The following FAQs is intended to provide information on COVID-19 as it relates to your company’s 2022 COR® audit and is a supplement to all existing BCCSA COR® Program information. Additional information on BCCSA’s COR® Program can be found on our website, including our COR® Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and COR® Policies and Procedures.
1. Are all 3 verification techniques (DOI) required for 2022 COR® audits?
2. Our company is seeking COR® Certification with BCCSA. How should we proceed?
3. Our company is due for a 2022 Maintenance Audit. How should we proceed?
4. Our company is due for a 2022 Recertification Audit. How should we proceed?
5. Is there an option to apply for a 2022 audit waiver?
6. Does BCCSA have any COVID-19 related resources our company can access?
7. Our company has a safety question, who can we call?
8. Will our company still receive a printed COR® Certificate?
1. Are all 3 verification techniques (DOI) required for 2022 COR® audits?
As confirmed with WorkSafeBC, all 3 verification techniques, Documentation, Observations, and Interview are required to verify your company has a functioning occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) which satisfies the COR® audit criteria.
To continue auditing, and following the practices as set out by the BC Provincial Health Officer, the following provisions may be used to conduct your company’s 2022 COR® audit:
D - Documentation
- Documents may be reviewed using electronic means to transmit/receive documents – this can include having appropriate personnel scan or take photos of records with appropriate protocols for security of information to transmit/receive information
- Where documents are reviewed/handled in person – prevent cross contamination of materials (minimize handling of papers, wash hands frequently, or use hand sanitizer)
O - Observations
- Observations must be conducted onsite (all participants must wear masks, with appropriate barriers and physical distancing, when possible) Note: there is no provision in place by WorkSafeBC to conduct virtual observations for 2022 COR® audits
I - Interviews
- Interviews may be conducted onsite (all participants must wear masks, with appropriate barriers and physical distancing, when possible) and/or virtually with appropriate authentication of identity via visual communication methods (i.e. Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
- Auditors must ensure the privacy of all interviewees (i.e. responses to interview questions must remain confidential) for onsite and virtual interviews
2. Our company is seeking COR® Certification with BCCSA. How should we proceed?
Please ensure your company follows BCCSA COR® Program requirements including the use of Documentation, Observation, and Interviews verification techniques.
There are two COR® Programs offered by BCCSA:
- Small COR® for companies with 19 or less employees
- Large COR® for companies with 20 or more employees
As a reminder, a COR® Certification Audit must be conducted and submitted to BCCSA by November 30th of the calendar year in which your company is seeking COR® Certification and incentive payment eligibility consideration from WorkSafeBC.
If your company is unable to meet the current calendar year’s November 30th deadline for new COR® Certification, your company must wait until the subsequent calendar year (i.e. 2023) to conduct and submit a COR® Certification Audit to BCCSA.
If your company requires further information on BCCSA’s COR® Program, please send an email to our COR® team at cor@bccsa.ca
3. Our company is due for a 2022 Maintenance Audit. How should we proceed?
Your company will be required to conduct a 2022 COR® Maintenance Audit using Documentation, Observation, and Interviews verification techniques to maintain 2022 COR® status and incentive payment eligibility consideration by WorkSafeBC.
Your company’s completed audit report must be submitted to BCCSA cor@bccsa.ca for Quality Assurance (QA) review. Once BCCSA has reviewed and approved your company’s 2022 audit submission, we will notify WorkSafeBC 2022 COR® program requirements have been met and submit the company for 2022 COR® incentive payment eligibility consideration.
BCCSA understands your company may have scaled back operations or changed work process flows related to COVID-19 – your company must contact BCCSA prior to commencing an audit if audit criteria such as site and interview sampling requirements, Normal Operating Mode (NOM), etc. cannot be satisfied. BCCSA will review the information to confirm if it is appropriate to proceed with your company’s planned audit.
If your company and/or auditor has any questions on completing the audit, please send an email to our COR® team at cor@bccsa.ca
4. Our company is due for a 2022 Recertification Audit. How should we proceed?
Your company will be required to conduct a 2022 COR® Recertification Audit using Documentation, Observation, and Interviews verification techniques. There is no option to request a 2022 audit waiver.
Your company’s completed audit report must be submitted to BCCSA cor@bccsa.ca for Quality Assurance (QA) review. Once BCCSA has reviewed and approved your company’s 2022 audit submission, we will notify WorkSafeBC 2022 COR® program requirements have been met and submit the company for 2022 COR® incentive payment eligibility consideration.
BCCSA understands your company may have scaled back operations or changed work process flows related to COVID-19 – your company must contact BCCSA prior to commencing an audit if audit criteria such as site and interview sampling requirements, Normal Operating Mode (NOM), etc. cannot be satisfied. BCCSA will review the information to confirm if it is appropriate to proceed with your company’s planned audit.
If your company and/or auditor has any questions on completing the audit, please send an email to our COR® team at cor@bccsa.ca
5. Is there an option to apply for a 2022 audit waiver?
There is no option from WorkSafeBC to request a 2022 audit waiver. Companies who wish to maintain or recertify their COR® must satisfy their 2022 COR® requirement by conducting and submitting an audit to BCCSA for QA.
6. Does BCCSA have any COVID-19 related resources our company can access?
BCCSA has collated and developed an extensive library of resources to support companies in this challenging time https://www.bccsa.ca/
7. Our company has a safety question, who can we call?
BCCSA’s Regional Safety Advisors are available to assist contractors who have safety questions or concerns, are looking to develop safety programs and materials, or want to prepare for COR® (Certificate of Recognition). These services are available at no cost to all construction (sector 72) employers and select aggregate and ready-mixed employers.
Serving contractors in the Lower Mainland, Northern BC, Southern Interior, and Vancouver Island, each Regional Safety Advisor offers extensive knowledge of and experience in construction industry health and safety and will focus on providing straightforward and practical assistance to all types and sizes of construction companies where meeting safety goals can sometimes be challenging.
8. Will our company still receive a printed COR® Certificate?
BCCSA will now email an electronic (PDF) copy of your company's COR® Certificate following successful COR® Certification/Recertification.
Your company's COR® certificate details are also available using WorkSafeBC's searchable database 'lookup' feature.
Both sources of certificate information should fulfill any requirement to provide proof of COR® certification when bidding for work.