The Certificate of Recognition (COR) is awarded to employers who implement and maintain an agricultural occupational health and safety program that exceeds regulatory requirements. COR recognition is earned by employers who successfully meet and pass a set of audit standards.

Certifying Partners are typically health and safety associations relative to the industry, with knowledge to promote and develop workplace health and safety. Once an employer registers with AgSafe the Certifying Partner, AgSafe will guide the employer to implement an effective health and safety program, and help to complete and pass a qualifying audit.

The Partners Program is a voluntary program that recognizes and provides incentive payments to agricultural 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.

There is no cost to participate in the Certificate of Recognition. *All Non-AgSafe Members, please contact the office for more information

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.

Over time, with reduced injuries and shorter claims duration, the primary agricultural employer’s experience rated WorkSafeBC premium will reflect additional savings.

The incentive payment is calculated using the following calculation:

company’s reported assessable payroll x CU base rate / $100 x 10%

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LARGE EMPLOYER 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)/$100 x 10% = $4,000 

SMALL EMPLOYER: There is a minimum annual COR payment (currently the lesser of $1000, or 75% 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.

Employers must implement an agricultural health and safety program then successfully pass the audit prior to applying for an incentive payment.

Classification Unit (CU)	CU#
Artificial Insemination or Animal Breeding	701001
Apiary	701002
Berry Farming	701003
Composting	701004
Dairy Farming, or Livestock Auctioning Services	701005
Egg Farming	701006
Farm Labour Supply or Farm Services	701008
Feed Lot	701009
Fur Bearing Animal Farming	701010
Grain Farming	701011
Hay or Seed Farming	701013
Hog Farming	701014
Hunting or Trapping	701015
White Mushroom Farming	701016
Orchard	701017
Ornamental Nursery or Floral Field Production	701018
Poultry Farming and Related Services	701020
Ranch	701022
Horse Ranching, Raising, and Breeding	701023
Sod or Turf Nursery	701024
Vegetable Farming	701025
Vineyard	701026
Wild Plant Harvesting	701027
Floral Greenhouse	701028
Vegetable Greenhouse	701029

Primary agricultural employers wishing to register for the program should fill out the online registration form, or contact their Regional Safety Consultant, Advisor or the AgSafe office at 1-877-533-1789.

COR certifications are valid for three years. Annually, every employer must conduct a maintenance audit to keep their certificate of recognition valid to be considered for an incentive payment.

An active agricultural health and safety program helps to ensure workers and agricultural workplaces are safe and secure from injury, illness and disease. This is accomplished through identifying, assessing, and controlling risks to workers.

An agricultural audit is a comprehensive review which must be carried out by a qualified auditor, using an agricultural audit provided by AgSafe. The audit covers the basic elements required for a health and safety program and includes interview, documentation review, and first-hand observation.