Cor injury rate is 28% lower than non-COR™ counterparts.

Construction workers know that there’s no better way to ensure a safe working environment than to implement an occupational health and safety management system that meets the COR™ national standard. Now, a new study from the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health has confirmed the big health and safety benefits of COR™.

 

The study used data from both IHSA and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to compare the injury rates of Ontario construction companies that are COR™-certified to those that are not. The results are clear: the lost-time injury rate among COR™-certified businesses was, on average, 28% lower than their non-COR™ injury rate counterparts. Likewise, the high-impact injury rate was 20% lower for COR™-certified firms.

 

The COR™ standard is a great way for construction companies to verify the full and effective implementation of their OHSMS. COR™ is available to companies of all sizes and in every sector. With COR™ certification, construction workers can rest assured that their employers are taking the necessary steps to keep them safe on the job.

 

Construction workers in Ontario now have access to an improved health and safety management system (OHSMS) through COR™ certification. Developed by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), COR™ provides a multi-stage process that includes thorough internal and external auditing of a company’s OHSMS, making it easier for buyers of services such as construction to ensure contractors bidding on jobs are up to par with health and safety performance.

 

For over a decade, Dr. McLeod has been researching the effectiveness of COR™ in western Canada and has seen impressive results from its implementation in Ontario. “The types of intervention effects that we see with COR™ [in Ontario] are the largest that I’ve seen,” he says. “When you map a 28% reduction in injury rate onto the return on an investment—in terms of the cost of claims, as well as the overall burden of injuries and illnesses to workers—it’s quite significant.”

 

Since IHSA brought COR™ to Ontario in 2012, more than 600 companies have used it to design, implement, and evaluate their health and safety management systems. Over 2,000 firms are currently registered in the COR™ program and those certified or registered may qualify ahead of others for certain jobs. This list of buyers of services requiring COR™ certification as a condition of a contract is growing, with such entities as the cities of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, and Ottawa; York Region; Town of Milton; Toronto Transit Commission; Greater Toronto Airports Authority; Liquor Control Board of Ontario; Metrolinx; and Infrastructure Ontario already requiring it.

 

By obtaining COR™ certification, construction workers can be assured that their employers have met the highest standards for health and safety management systems in the industry. This not only keeps them safe on the job but also gives them a competitive edge when applying for certain positions. In addition, employers who have gone through the COR™ process will benefit from reduced costs associated with claims and injuries due to a more comprehensive approach to health and safety management.

 

For further questions feel free and set up an appointment with our COR specialist.