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Update on COR v. ISO Equivalency

A letter to the IHSA from David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

As an update and as part of our ongoing advocacy regarding COR equivalency for ISO 45001 certified companies, we wanted to share a letter the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development sent to the IHSA.

He has directed the IHSA to continue granting COR equivalency to firms that are certified under the ISO 45001:2018 standard on a permanent basis.

"As Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, I am now directing the IHSA under subsection 22.6(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to continue granting COR® 2020 equivalency to firms that are certified under the ISO 45001:2018 standard on a permanent basis."

Please contact Stephanie Bellotto at stephanie.bellotto@oswca.org if you have any questions, and refer to this letter if you come across any issues moving forward

Dear Mr. Garritano,

As you know, the health and safety of Ontario workers is a top priority for me and my ministry. One method to drive better outcomes in health and safety is to promote the use of occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) in Ontario.

In Ontario, two of the most common OHSMS used by construction employers are COR® 2020, which is administered by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), and ISO 45001:2018, an international standard that is recognized across Canada and globally. Both standards meet the CPO Accreditation Standard under the SOSE program and are broadly equivalent.

Traditionally, the IHSA has allowed firms holding ISO 45001:2018 certification to obtain COR® 2020 equivalency because the content contained in ISO 45001:2018 is equivalent to COR® 2020.

The upcoming elimination of the equivalency process will negatively effect stakeholders, industry, and those who bid and buy construction in Ontario. The equivalency allows employers who have successfully implemented ISO 45001:2018 to maintain that certification without requiring full certification to COR® 2020. Holding two certifications to similar CPO-accredited standards would be duplicative, expensive, and without any added health and safety benefit.

As Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, I am now directing the IHSA under subsection 22.6(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to continue granting COR® 2020 equivalency to firms that are certified under the ISO 45001:2018 standard on a permanent basis.

Thank you for your continued work to promote the health and safety of workers across Ontario. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer, Dr. Joel Moody. 

Sincerely,

David Piccini
Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

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