Certificate of Recognition (COR) Processes

A Certificate of Recognition (COR) is awarded to employers who have successfully implemented a basic workplace health and safety management system. The following explains the Alberta Forest Products Association's (AFPA) COR Process.

Steps to Achieving a Regular Certificate of Recognition (COR) with AFPA

1. Register in the PIR program.
   In order for the AFPA to act as a company's Certifying Partner, the company must either be a member of the association, or work as a contractor for an AFPA member. Non-member contractors may utilize AFPA as their Certifying Partner however an annual fee will be administered.
2. Complete the AFPA Leadership in Health and Safety Training.
   Leadership in Health and Safety training addresses the fundamental values of an effective health and safety program and addresses the key elements that should make up the program.  
3. Develop and Implement an effective Health and Safety Management System in your workplace.
4. Select an appropriate audit instrument, recognized and approved by the AFPA.
5. Select an AFPA, certified, external consultant auditor.
6. Have a qualifying audit completed (usually 80% overall score with no less than 50% in any one element).

Once the audit is approved, the AFPA will submit a COR request to Alberta Human Services on your behalf. Once the COR is received by AFPA, it is signed by the association's president and forwarded to you.

Steps to Achieving a Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR) with AFPA

To accomodate the needs of companies who meet the definition of a 'Small Employer' and who are pursuing a COR, Partnerships has devised a self-adminstered audit process unique to the needs of smaller operations.

1. Register in the PIR program.
2. Complete the AFPA's Leadership in Health and Safety Training and particpate in the 2-day Auditor Training session.
   If the audit is completed using an External Consultant Auditor, the Auditor Training session does not have to be completed.
3. Develop and Implement an effective Health and Safety Management System in your workplace.
4. Conduct a SECOR Assessment of the company's Health and Safety program.
   This must be completed within 6 months of the training sessions. The SECOR Assessment is completed using the SECOR Audit Protocol and must be validated by a Commissioner of Oaths.

Once the SECOR Assessment is approved, the AFPA will submit a COR request to Alberta Human Services on your behalf. Once the COR is received by AFPA, it is signed by the association's president and forwarded to you.

Steps to Achieving a Medium Employer Certificate of Recognition (MECOR) with AFPA

MECOR provides medium-sized employers (11-30 employees) with a graduated process for achieving a regular COR. The intent is to encourage medium-sized employers to actively pursue a COR and to allow small employers who currently hold a SECOR to transition into the regular COR Program. 

1. Register in the PIR program.
2. Complete the AFPA's Leadership in Health and Safety Training.
3. Develop and Implement an effective Health and Safety Management System in your workplace.
4. Conduct an external SECOR Audit of the company's Health and Safety program.

Once the MECOR Audit is approved, the AFPA will submit a COR request to Alberta Human Services on your behalf. Once the COR is received by AFPA, it is signed by the association's president and forwarded to you. In years 2 and 3 of the MECOR process, particpants must complete an audit using the AFPA PIR I Audit Protocol. This audit can be completed using an AFPA Certified External Consultant Auditor or by an Internal or Peer Auditor.