What is a Certificate of Recognition (COR)?

A Certificate of Recognition (COR) is essential to WCB’s PIR program and a key component of Employment, Immigration and Industry’s Partnerships program.  The COR is issued to employers who have successfully implemented a basic workplace health and safety management system. The components of a workplace health and safety management system will vary depending on the nature and scope of individual businesses, but to be effective the following elements are considered essential:

• Company policy and management commitment
• Worker qualifications, orientation and training
• Hazard identification
• Hazard control
• Ongoing inspections
• Emergency response
• Incident investigation
• Program administration

Once an employer has developed and implemented their workplace health and safety management system, it must be independently audited. Audits are coordinated through your Certifying Partner - AHSA.  AHSA then reviews the audit for compliance with quality standards.  If the audit meets all of the standards, AHSA, in conjunction with Employment, Immigration and Industry, will issue a COR to the employer.

Once a COR has been issued, it is valid for a three year period as long as all yearly maintenance requirements are met. The employer is responsible for completing internal audits for each of the next two years.  When the COR expires after three years, another external audit must be conducted to renew the COR.  For the external audit, you can either contract the AHSA’s consultant auditor or have staff trained to participate in the Peer Audit system.

What are the advantages of attaining a COR?

• By maintaining a quality health and safety system, you can reduce accidents and improve employee morale.
• You gain recognition for your health and safety standards from industry experts, other employers and contractors.
• You qualify for PIR and other WCB premium refunds.

Can an employer earn a discount without having a COR?

It takes time to build effective health, safety and disability management systems. To acknowledge this, a special feature was built into the PIR program to motivate employers whose programs have not yet reached the COR standard.  Effective 2000, PIR provides a one-year grace period in which you can achieve your COR and still earn a discount by Improving Your Performance.  If you have registered in PIR with the WCB and you have not earned your COR by the end of the year, the discount for Improving Your Performance will be carried forward for one year.  If the COR has been achieved by the end of the next year, the discount held will be paid to the employer. If the COR is not achieved, the discount will be forfeited.  This applies to employers earning a COR for the first time since 2000.

What is a Certifying Partner?

Employment, Immigration and Industry enters into formal partnerships with organizations who wish to take a leadership role in the promotion and development of workplace health and safety in Alberta.  A Certifying Partner is recognized by Employment, Immigration and Industry as an organization having the ability to assess health and safety audits for quality and to jointly issue Certificates of Recognition to employers.  The certifying partner for hotels (WCB industry code 87503) is the Albert Hotel Safety Association.  The AHSA also assists restaurants to obtain their COR.

Does it matter which Certifying Partner I choose?

There are benefits in selecting a Certifying Partner familiar with your industry.  Hotels and motels are already paying fees toward a safety association through their WCB premiums.  As such, your company will receive cost-effective services through the AHSA -- customized for your industry.  Properties not paying these additional fees through WCB (such as restaurants - WCB industry code 87501) can pay a membership fee to partner with the AHSA.

A Certificate of Recognition is awarded by the AHSA and Employment, Immigration and Industry to properties that achieve 80% or better on an external health & safety program audit completed within the parameters established by the AHSA. Presentations of the Certificates are made at the Annual Convention of the Alberta Hotel Association. A Certificate of Recognition is valid for three years, with the requirement that the hotel submit internal audits for the two "maintenance" years. During this time, the hotel will receive the PIR Discounts from WCB.

Congratulations to the NEW Certificate of Recognition recipients!

• Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
• Creeburn Lake Lodge (Atco Structures) - Fort MacKay
• Executive Royal Inn Hotel & Conference Centre - Leduc
• Four Points by Sheraton Edmonton South
• Noralta Lodge - Nisku, Fort McMurray, Wabasca, Red Earth
• Sandman Hotel Calgary Airport
• Sandman Hotel and Suites Calgary West
• Sandman Hotel Calgary City Centre
• Sandman Hotel Lethbridge
• Sandman Hotel West Edmonton
• Sands Hotel & Conference Centre - Edmonton
• St. Albert Inn & Suites

Congratulations to the following properties who successfully renewed their COR!

• Banff Aspen Lodge
• Best Western Denham Inn & Suites - Leduc
• Best Western Heidelberg Inn & Chinook Motel - Lethbridge
• Bonnyville Neighbourhood Inn
• Canterra Suites Hotel - Edmonton
• Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre - Edmonton
• Chili's Bar & Grill - 5 Calgary Restaurants
• Chili's Bar & Grill - 6 Edmonton Restaurants
• Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel
• Continental Inn & Suites - Edmonton
• Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe - Edmonton
• Delta Bow Valley - Calgary
• Delta Lodge at Kananaskis
• Fairmaont Banff Springs
• Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
• Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
• Fantasyland Hotel at West Edmonton Mall
• Radisson Hotel Edmonton South
• Sheraton Cavalier Hotel - Calgary
• Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire
• The Rimrock Resort Hotel - Banff
• Westin Calgary
• Westin Edmonton

Congratulations to the properties that maintained their COR!

• Calgary Marriott Hotel
• Carriage House Inn - Calgary
• Coast Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre - Calgary
• Delta Calgary Airport
• Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel
• Dunvegan Inn & Suites - Fairview
• Edmonton Marriott at River Cree Resort - Enoch
• Fairmont Hotel Macdonald - Edmonton
• Fairmont Palliser - Calgary
• Fairmont Regional Linen Services - Canmore
• Glenmore Inn & Convention Centre - Calgary
• Hyatt Regency Calgary on Stephen Avenue Walk
• International Hotel & Suites - Calgary
• La Biche Inn - Lac La Biche
• Lethbridge Lodge Hotel
• Mayfield Inn & Suites - Edmonton
• Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre Canmore
• Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre - Edmonton
• Red Deer Lodge Hotel & Conference Centre
• Rosslyn Inn & Suites - Edmonton
• Sandman Hotel Grande Prairie
• Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre - Slave Lake
• Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre - Jasper
• The Banff Centre for Continuing Education
• The Sutton Place Hotel - Edmonton
• Tim Hortons - 6 Edmonton Restaurants