COR vs. ISO 45001 Certification: Which one is better?

COR certification is the craze these days and seems to be the “must have” certification for construction companies. However, what most people don’t realize is that there is an alternative to COR certification which on many levels is superior. I’m referring to ISO 45001. When comparing these two strong certifications, one must ask themselves which one gives me more value for my investment. From a cost perspective, both certifications are relatively equivalent in the costs of preparation, audit and final certification. Since cost is not the driving force in this dissertation then other items need to be qualified.

We have decided to de-mystify this question by providing some pros and cons to these two certifications.

• One of the benefits of ISO 45001 is that it is recognized internationally, and once a company obtains certification, it is valid in any jurisdiction.
• COR is required in order to be certified in each province, which means if your company works in two or more provinces, you will need to familiarize yourself with the subtle differences among provinces prior to requesting equivalency.
• COR was developed in Canada by the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations to ensure that construction companies have set standards for measuring their health and safety programs. COR is widely recognized in Canada, and managers who have completed the NCSO are familiar with the COR auditing system, which provides an advantage for companies who choose to pursue COR.
• ISO 45001 may not have as many managers who are specifically trained for the system. However, once the framework is learned, it is fairly easy to follow. It is also part of the ISO Annex XL system, meaning that if your company currently implements other ISO systems (for example 14001 – Environmental, ISO 9001-Quality Management Systems and many others), the framework of 45001 will feel familiar. Also, one must note that ISO 9001 is the core standard on which all ISO standards are built. This means that once a company implements one ISO standard, they’ve provided themselves the basic framework to implement any and all certifications. This provides an easier avenue for companies to achieve any ISO certification in the future.
• ISO 45001 can often be successfully implemented in a much timelier manner than COR. This is especially true if your company is familiar with other ISO management systems.
• Larger companies that currently employ a full-time in-house safety manager have an advantage over small or medium companies when it comes to COR. The program requires an in-house auditor, so having safety staff already in place is a big advantage.
• With ISO 45001, there is no requirement for the full-time in-house auditor therefore smaller companies can opt to contract external consultants (not on full-time payroll). These external consultants can help manage the implementation process as well as provide ongoing audit support. This is a large cost savings to any size organization.
• ISO 45001 has approximately 7 clauses which any health & safety system across the globe must follow in order to be accredited. The COR standard has 13 primary elements required for all provinces in Canada, with 6 additional elements required from companies in Ontario. The 19 elements for Ontario encompass the need for various procedures, policies and implementation measures. These additional requirements could prove burdensome for a company to implement and maintain.

After reviewing all of the above pros and cons for each certification, it’s clear that becoming ISO 45001 certified can be of greater benefit to an organization.

ISO Certification Consultants provides an A to Z approach for a Construction Company’s certification needs in ISO 45001 as well as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications. Our organization can provide the consultation needed to ready a company for certification. In collaboration with a Canadian Accredited Certification Body, we can provide the necessary transition from our consultation services to our partner’s Audit and Certification services. This is what makes our process so unique and desirable to many of our clients. We handle the details thereby making your company’s journey uncomplicated.