COR & Auditing / About PIR & COR

About PIR & COR

Partnerships in Injury Reduction is a joint project of Alberta Labour - Partnerships, the Workers’ Compensation Board - Alberta, and employers, represented by one of Alberta’s 13 certifying partners. AMHSA is the certifying partner for the municipal sector. All of the certifying partners meet regularly as a group with Alberta Labour - Partnerships and WCB – Alberta to discuss issues and concerns common to all the certifying partners and to explore ways to improve the PIR program.

It is recognized that a meaningful and well-implemented health and safety management system will lead to a reduction in workplace losses, injuries, and illness. The program helps municipalities earn financial incentives (refunds) to encourage implementing effective health and safety management systems. All Alberta municipalities are eligible to participate in this voluntary program. 

Certifying Partners such as AMHSA issue a certificate which recognizes that an employer’s health and safety management system has been evaluated by a certified auditor and meets PIR standards. Municipalities must receive a COR to qualify for a WCB rebate.

NEW FOR 2022:

• June: The recent changes to OHS legislation necessitated a review of the Standards, which will impact the content of our training (both the Health and Safety Management Systems and the Health and Safety Auditing courses) and the content of both the COR and SECOR audit tools. AMHSA is currently revising its training to meet the new Standards, and a revised audit tool will be formally reviewed by Partnerships for approval. Once approval is obtained, we will update our Excel, AuditSoft and eCompliance versions, and provide them to members before the required January 1, 2023 implementation date. Click here for more details.
• March: The on-site data gathering suspension has been lifted. Auditors may now resume on-site data gathering activities, or continue to work remotely. Prior to conducting on-site data gathering activities, both the auditor and employer must agree that on-site work can be safely conducted. The use of observations remains optional.
• Interviews: to be conducted remotely using web-based platforms (e.g. Teams, Zoom, Facetime, etc.) or telephone calls.
• COR Certification: Documentation and Interviews required (minimum six months documentation in previous 12 month period). Passing score 80% overall.
• COR Maintenance: Documentation and interviews required (minimum six months documentation in previous 12 month period). Passing score 60% overall. Action Plans in lieu of COR maintenance audits option is available – application deadline is June 30, 2022.
• SECOR audits: six months of documentation in previous 12-month period. 80% overall required for Certification and 60% overall for Maintenance.

Click Here for Audit Updates and News

If you have questions about your upcoming COR audit, please contact Shannon Thomas.

Learn More

• PIR Process
  • Financial Incentives
  • 2019 PIR Requirements
• Certificates of Recognition (COR)
  • Large employers (with greater than 10 employees) receive a COR
  • Small employers (with 10 or fewer employees) receive a SECOR
• Audit Tools & Resources
  • Auditor Updates
  • Consultant Auditors

For more information on PIR/COR, contact Shannon Thomas (Shannon@amhsa.net).

Additional Information from Alberta Labour - Partnerships:

• What is a Certificate of Recognition?
• What is a Certifying Partner?
• Employers with a COR

Last updated: July 18, 2022