Let’s be honest: getting COR certified sounds overwhelming. Safety audits, documentation, worker training, internal buy-in… it’s a lot. But here’s the thing most companies miss: you don’t need to do everything at once to start moving in the right direction.
Whether you’re aiming for full certification or just want a stronger, more auditable safety system, there are simple steps you can take today to lay the groundwork.
Here are 7 things you can do right now to kick off your COR journey, and set your company up for stronger safety, smoother audits, and better access to work.
1. Start with Commitment—Put It in Writing
You don’t need a legal team or fancy policy documents to show you’re serious about safety. You just need clear direction. Write a one-pager outlining your company’s intent to pursue COR, who’s leading the charge, and what the first three priorities are (e.g., form audit, training refresh, document access).
Stick it on the wall. Bring it up in the next toolbox talk. When leadership says it matters, it starts to matter everywhere else, too.
2. Do a Quick Safety Forms Audit
Take 30 minutes today to open your current safety forms (whether you’re handling them digitally or on paper) and ask:
- Do these align with the COR audit elements?
- Are we capturing sign-offs, locations, and photos?
- Can we actually find completed forms when we need them?
You don’t need to fix everything now. Just make a list of what’s missing or outdated. That alone puts you ahead of most companies.
3. Build (or Update) Your Safety Manual
A solid Health & Safety manual is a cornerstone of COR. But don’t wait for perfection. Start with the basics:
- A company-wide safety policy
- Hazard ID process
- Incident reporting procedures
- Emergency response plans
Even a rough draft you revise over time is better than a blank page. And once it’s done, make sure workers can actually access it (digitally, ideally).
4. Identify Expired or Missing Certifications
If you can’t pull up your team’s certs in under 60 seconds, you’re already in dangerous territory. Start a shared spreadsheet or use a platform like Corfix to:
- List all required certifications by role
- Track expiry dates
- Flag gaps and upcoming renewals
Having even a basic cert-tracking system gives you control, and helps avoid site delays, fines, or rejected bids.
5. Make Safety a Daily Habit (Not Just a Form)
COR requires demonstrated, ongoing safety engagement, not just paperwork. It’s the difference between having a safety program and building a safety culture. Start today by:
- Holding a short toolbox talk
- Walking the site with a hazard checklist
- Logging a near-miss (even a minor one)
Doing one small thing daily builds the kind of culture that auditors—and clients—want to see.
6. Talk to Your Safety Association
COR is provincial, so your local safety association is your best ally. Whether it’s IHSA (Ontario), BCCSA (BC), or ACSA (Alberta), they offer free resources, training, and auditor lists.
Even a 15-minute call can give you clarity on:
- What audit standard applies to you
- How to register for the program
- What templates or support are available
Don’t wait until you “feel ready” (because you probably never will). Reach out now and get on their radar.
7. Digitize One Thing That’s a Mess
You don’t need to overhaul your whole safety system in a day. Pick one thing you’re constantly losing, chasing, or repeating. And then digitize it.
- Still chasing paper timesheets? Try mobile punch cards.
- Sick of missing toolbox talk sign-offs? Try QR codes.
- Drowning in incident forms? Move to fillable, mobile-accessible forms.
Start small. Keep it practical. Most companies that switch to a field-first platform like Corfix start with one problem, see how smooth it runs, and then build from there.
The Eighth Step
If you’ve taken even one of the steps above, you’re already ahead of the curve. But to get COR right—and make it work for your business—you need more than checklists. You need context, examples, and a clear picture of what the full path looks like.
That’s where our white paper comes in.
It breaks down:
- The 5 biggest business benefits of COR (yes, including the money)
- Where COR is required—and where it’s functionally unavoidable
- How to prepare for your audit without drowning in admin work
Whether you’re aiming to certify this year or just want to level up your safety systems, this is your next move.