The Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR) is designed for companies with 10 or fewer employees.
Like COR, it recognizes employers who have implemented an effective health and safety management system, verified through an audit.
How to get a SECOR
Register with your provincial governing body
- Alberta - Account Registration
- British Columbia - WorkSafe BC Certificate of Recognition Program
- Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board
- Manitoba - Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
Confirm certifying partner
Complete training
Develop and implement a Health and Safety Management System
Log in to My Account to register your audit
Perform and submit an audit
Pay SECOR fees
Achieve your SECOR
Maintaining a SECOR
Once you've achieved a Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR), an employer must maintain the status of their SECOR during the second and third calendar years of their certification cycle by conducting annual maintenance audits or approved maintenance options.
Maintaining SECOR certification
- Failure to complete maintenance requirements will result in the loss of your SECOR
- Stay compliant with provincial safety standards
- Continuously improve workplace safety performance
- Remain eligible for financial incentives tied to SECOR certification
Determine when your audit is due
Your annual date is the month shown on your SECOR certificate. Use that month each year as your submission deadline.
Maintenance Requirement
- A SECOR maintenance audit is required during the second and third calendar years of the certification cycle.
- Supporting documentation must reflect the past 12 months of your health and safety activities (e.g. safety meeting minutes, inspections).
- The audit process is completed through the SECOR Online Tool
Maintenance Options
SECOR holders may be eligible to complete a SECOR Action Plan in lieu of a full maintenance audit.
Auditing Fees
Before starting, determine if your company is an Energy Safety Canada Member.
- Members: Industry Codes/Classification Units listed on the Determine Member Status page are considered members.
- Non-Members: If your Industry Code/Classification Unit is not listed, you are considered a non-member. Non-members are welcome to participate, but membership cannot be purchased or applied for.
Member Fees
| Audit Type | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| SECOR (1 - 10 employees) | $150 |
| Action Plan | $250 |
Non-Member Fees
| Audit Type | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| SECOR (1 - 10 employees) | $600 |
| Action Plan | $1,200 |
Important Notes
- Energy Safety Canada reserves the right to change fees without notice
- No refunds or credits will be issued
- Fees are based on the calendar year and will not carry forward if an audit is not completed
- Annual fees include one Quality Assurance (QA) review per company
- Employers must also pay audit service fees, which are negotiated directly with an independent Energy Safety Canada certified auditor
Timelines for Auditor/Assessor Activities
The table below outlines the required timing for specific activities
| Audit Type | Data Gathering | Audit Report Writing & Submission | Audit Corrections |
|---|---|---|---|
| SECOR Audit (completed by an ESC Auditor) | 15 days | 21 days from day on site | 15 days from request for revisions |
| SCORE Audit (completed by an Assessor) | 36 days | 36 days | 15 days from request for revisions |
Action Plans
Employers may request approval from ESC to use an Action Plan instead of conducting a maintenance audit to maintain their COR or SECOR, provided the company meets eligibility criteria.
Action Plans are designed to introduce measurable, meaningful improvements to an employer’s occupational health and safety (OHS) management system.
Please Note: WorkSafeBC is not currently participating in the Action Plan Program.
COR Action Plan Eligibility Criteria
- Must have a current, regular COR (1-year CORs are not eligible).
- Employer must be in a maintenance year and have completed at least one full, three-year COR audit cycle.
- The last certification audit must have achieved:
- 85% or higher overall, OR
- 80% or higher if in a 2nd-year Action Plan.