Upcoming Changes to COR® 2020 Equivalency for ISO 45001:2018 Certified Firms

We would like to inform our stakeholders about an important upcoming change concerning the Certificate of Recognition (COR®) program in Ontario.

COR® is an occupational health and safety accreditation program that verifies a fully implemented Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) meets national standards. The objectives of COR® are to provide industry employers with effective tools to develop, implement, assess, and promote continual improvement of their OHSMS to prevent or mitigate incidents and injuries as well as their associated human and financial costs.

COR® is nationally registered, trademarked, and endorsed by the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations and is delivered through member associations that have a formal Memorandum of Understanding to serve as the authority having jurisdiction to grant COR® in their respective province/territory. Since the program’s introduction in Ontario, IHSA has provided equivalency certificates to organizations that meet particular international health and safety management system standards.

Starting March 3, 2025, IHSA will no longer issue COR® 2020 equivalency to firms that have achieved ISO 45001:2018 certification. This change aligns with our commitment to maintaining the integrity and comprehensive standards of the COR® program.

What This Means for You

• Firms currently certified to ISO 45001:2018 will no longer be eligible to apply for COR® 2020 equivalency or reciprocity. All currently issued COR® 2020 equivalency certifications will expire on the date specified on the equivalency certificate.
• Firms seeking COR® 2020 certification will need to successfully complete the COR® 2020 audit process to obtain the certification.

We understand that stakeholders may have questions or require additional support during this transition. Answers to some common concerns and queries are outlined below:

• Why is IHSA discontinuing COR® equivalency for ISO 45001 certified firms?
  IHSA’s decision is driven by our commitment to maintaining a high standard of the COR® program to encourage the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of OHSMSs across the province. We want to ensure that all firms holding COR® certification have met the same specific requirements and have been evaluated using the COR® standard.
• How will this change affect firms currently holding COR® equivalency through ISO 45001?
  We encourage all impacted firms to begin preparing for the COR® audit process if they wish to maintain COR® certification. This transition may involve reviewing and updating your current OHSMS to meet the specific requirements of the COR® 2020 audit. We recommend that firms start this process as soon as possible to ensure they have adequate time to address any gaps and to familiarize themselves with the COR® 2020 standard. IHSA’s COR® team is available to support firms during this transition.
• What should firms do if they are currently in the process of obtaining ISO 45001 certification and also wish to attain COR® 2020 certification?
  Firms wishing to obtain both certifications will need to complete the unique certification process for each standard. For more information, please see the COR® 2020 Standard or the COR® 2020 Program Guideline.

We are here to provide additional support to help firms navigate this transition smoothly. Please click here to access a complete list of FAQs regarding this change. For any other questions or further clarification, please contact our COR® team at corexternalaudit@ihsa.ca.

Thank you for your understanding and continued commitment to health and safety excellence in Ontario.