COR & Auditing / About PIR & COR / Small Employer COR (SECOR)

Small Employer COR (SECOR)

The Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR) is for organizations with 10 or fewer employees only. If your organization has greater than 10 employees, click here for more information on the large employer COR.

A SECOR is issued to an employer whose health and safety management system meets the Partnerships standard. An effective system can support due diligence by the employer and result in reducing the social and financial costs of workplace injury and illness. Employers who achieve a SECOR and are registered in PIR are eligible for an automatic 5% industry rate discount on their annual WCB premiums, which could increase to a maximum of 20% based on claims cost performance as long as a valid SECOR is maintained.

Any municipality in Alberta with 10 or fewer employees can participate in the SECOR program. The term "employees" includes anyone who directly affects the outcome of the organization’s work (e.g., municipal manager, administration, and seasonal employees). It also includes part-time and temporary employees, as well as subcontractors. The total number of employees cannot exceed 10 at any time during the year; if it does, the municipality is considered a regular employer and the standard COR requirements apply.

Successful small employer municipalities will be issued a Small Employer Certificate of Recognition, which is valid for three (3) years, assuming it is maintained by continuing to conduct SECOR audits in each of the next two (2) calendar years. We also recommend that at least one (1) employee has attended the WCB’s Return to Work Seminar.

For questions or comments regarding SECOR, please contact Shannon Thomas ([email protected]) or Jessica Meyer ([email protected]).

THE AUDIT CYCLE

The Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR) is awarded to an employer that has demonstrated it has a good health and safety management system in place. The employer demonstrates this by passing a SECOR Certification audit. The SECOR is valid for three (3) years, provided:

  • Internal maintenance audits are performed in each of the next two (2) calendar years
  • Develop and implement an action plan

Note: If a serious incident or fatality occurs (traumatic incident), Alberta Jobs, Economy and Northern Development will conduct a review of the organization’s health and safety management system with the employer and Certifying Partner to determine if the SECOR is still valid. Alberta Jobs, Economy and Northern Development has the authority to revoke a SECOR. If revoked, the municipality will be required to conduct and pass another certification (external) audit.

The SECOR has an expiry date. The employer must pass another certification audit in the expiry year in order to remain eligible for financial incentives. To prevent a lapse in SECOR status, the certification audit must be performed before the expiry date.

FREQUENCY

Municipalities involved in PIR must have their system audited at least once every calendar year. To obtain a Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR), the municipality must pass a certification audit. The SECOR is valid for three (3) years, assuming all program requirements are met. One of the program requirements is that for the next two (2) years, internal audits must be conducted. All audits must be conducted by the one (1) year anniversary date of their last audit (this provides for a full 12 months’ review of the management system). In the fourth year, another certification audit is required to renew the SECOR.  

Example:

If a municipality achieves a SECOR in 2021, the cycle would be as follows:

  • 2021 (year 1): certification audit to achieve SECOR (must pass audit and QA)
  • 2022 (year 2): internal audit to maintain SECOR (not required to pass the audit but must pass QA)
  • 2023 (year 3): internal audit to maintain SECOR (not required to pass the audit but must pass QA)
  • 2024 (year 4): certification audit to attain new SECOR (must pass the audit and QA)
  • 2025 (year 5): internal audit to maintain SECOR (not required to pass the audit but must pass QA)

All audits must be shared with the municipality audited and submitted to AMHSA.  

There may be reasons to conduct health and safety management system audits more frequently. For example, a serious injury or an increase in incidents may signal a weakness in the program that needs to be investigated. Significant changes in operations or personnel may also prompt a review of the effectiveness of your system. Another example is if an audit revealed several weaknesses and an action plan was developed to address the weaknesses, another audit may be warranted once the actions are implemented.

For more information on PIR/SECOR, contact Shannon Thomas ([email protected]) or Jessica Meyer ([email protected])

 

Last updated: March 3, 2022