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Partners Program (COR) FAQs
What is the Partners Program?
The Partners Program is a voluntary program that recognizes and provides incentive payments to employers who go beyond the legal requirements of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and take a best-practices approach to implementing health, safety, and return-to-work programs.
What is a Certificate of Recognition?
The Health and Safety Certificate of Recognition (COR) is awarded to employers who implement and maintain an occupational health and safety management system that exceeds regulatory requirements. CORs are earned by employers who successfully meet a set of audit standards.
Why would an employer want a COR?
COR certificates make a strong statement about how much employers value their workers and how committed they are to ensuring workers and workplaces are safe and secure from injury, illness and disease.
Are there other benefits to participating in the Partners Program?
The reward for this new, higher level of accountability is first and foremost a safer, healthier workforce — but there are important financial benefits, as well. WorkSafeBC provides incentive payments to COR companies in good standing. Incentive payments are calculated using a company’s assessable payroll and the base rate for each classification unit (CU) for the incentive year.
Over time, with reduced injuries and shorter claims duration, the employer's experience rated WorkSafeBC premium will reflect additional savings. Also, in some industries, CORs are becoming a requirement as a prequalification to bid on work contracts.
How is the incentive payment calculated?
Employers who obtain the Health and Safety COR will receive an incentive payment using the following calculation:
Employer’s reported assessable payroll x CU Base Rate divided by $100 of assessable payroll x 10%
For example, if your reported payroll was $2 million and your CU base rate was $2.00 your incentive payment would be $4,000:
| ($2,000,000 x | $2.00) | x 10% = $4,000 |
| $100 |
If you also possess the Injury Management/Return-to-Work COR you are eligible for an additional 5%, (or $2,000).
How much does it cost to participate?
The cost to participate varies according to the size of each employer's operations and the industry in which the employer is operating. Potential costs include the cost for required training, the cost to perform audits, and the cost to implement and manage the health and safety management system and injury management/return-to-work system.
What is a Certifying Partner?
Certifying Partners are typically safety associations recognized by WorkSafeBC as having in-depth industry knowledge used to promote and develop workplace health and safety. Employers will be aligned to Certifying Partners specific to their industry. Once an employer registers with a Certifying Partner, the Certifying Partner guides the employer to implement an effective health and safety management system, and helps the employer complete and pass a qualifying audit.
How can employers register for the program?
Employers wishing to register for the program should contact the certifying partner for their industry. Check the WorkSafeBC website to determine the appropriate certifying partner.
If you can’t find a certifying partner for your industry please contact the partners program contact the Partners Program by email or call 604 244-6164, toll-free 1 866 644-6164.
What is a health and safety management system?
A health and safety management system ensures that there is a comprehensive health and safety program implemented and functioning to ensure workers and workplaces are safe and secure from injury, illness and disease. This is accomplished through identifying, assessing, and controlling risks to workers in all workplaces. The scope and complexity of the management system vary according to the type of workplace and the nature of business.
What is an injury management/return-to-work system?
Building on the health and safety management system, an injury management/return-to-work system is a process to help injured workers return to meaningful, productive work in a safe and timely manner. The options available vary according to the size and type of workplace and the nature of business.
What is an audit?
An audit is a comprehensive review which must be carried out by a qualified auditor, using an audit instrument approved for use in the Partners Program, and appropriate to the industry and employer's operations. The audit covers the basic elements required for the management system and includes interviews, a documentation review, and first-hand observation.
How long is a COR valid?
COR certifications are valid for three years. Annually, every employer must conduct a maintenance audit to keep their COR(s) valid, and be considered for an incentive payment.
Should small employers participate in this program?
Any employer, regardless of size, will benefit from a healthy and safe work environment. To keep participation costs manageable for smaller employers, a modified audit standard may be used, with the flexibility to use an internal employee trained in auditing to perform the audits. As well, there's a minimum annual COR rebate (currently the lesser of $500, or one half (1/2) of what the employer has paid in premiums for the incentive year being calculated) to ensure a financial incentive is possible for even the smallest employers.
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