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.

For more information on Certificate of Recognition (COR), please click here.

Policy Reference - Per WorkSafeBC

"The Assessment Manual sets out the framework and describes the guiding principles for the COR program. Employers should review policy AP5-247-4 to learn more about how decisions relating to the COR program are made, as well as for details about the requirements of an occupational health and safety management system."

To participate in the COR Program, employers must register with a Certifying Partner that offers services to their particular industry. To search for the Certifying Partner that serves your industry, please click here .

Employers wanting to enter the program in sectors without a Certifying Partner will be aligned with the Certifying Partner that most closely matches their needs, by a process of “natural alignment”.

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%

 ROI Calculator

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.

For more information on Incentives Process, Criteria, Overview of timing and scheduling, please click here.

Change to how employers receive their incentive payments

"Beginning in May/June 2021, Certificate of Recognition (COR) financial incentives will no longer be mailed as physical cheques. Instead, if you meet the program’s incentive eligibility criteria, the payment will be credited directly to your WorkSafeBC account. This change will eliminate delays in reimbursement created by mail delivery disruptions or outdated contact information, will eliminate the step requiring you to deposit your cheque, and will reduce our environmental footprint. If you have any questions about this change, please email partners.program@worksafebc.com.

If you have questions about your credit and your account, please contact the assessments (insurance enquiries) team at 604.244.6181 or by logging into your online services account through report-payroll-pay-premiums."

- WorkSafeBC

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.

"The Return-to-Work (RTW) COR certification program will be discontinued after 2021. As a result of a thorough review of the program, WorkSafeBC has decided to focus on other return-to-work programs and initiatives that provide the best outcomes for injured workers. Employers currently in the program can participate in the RTW COR audit in 2021 if they choose. If successful, they will receive their final RTW COR incentive payment after May 2022, provided the incentive eligibility criteria are met."

- WorkSafeBC