The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) in Ontario has announced that, effective March 3, 2025, it will no longer offer COR 2020 equivalency to firms that are certified under the ISO 45001:2018 standard.
This move aligns with IHSA’s goal to maintain the integrity of the COR program by ensuring that all certified firms are evaluated using the same criteria, it said.
The COR program is a nationally recognized occupational health and safety accreditation that verifies a fully implemented Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) meets Canadian standards. Traditionally, IHSA has allowed firms holding ISO 45001:2018 certification to obtain COR 2020 equivalency, but this practice will end as the organization seeks to standardize its evaluation process.
According to IHSA, the decision is driven by a commitment to uphold the program’s rigorous standards. “We want to ensure that all firms holding COR certification have met the same specific requirements and have been evaluated using the COR standard,” the organization stated in the announcement.
For firms currently holding COR 2020 equivalency through ISO 45001:2018 certification, the change means that their equivalency certification will expire on the date specified on their existing certificates. Moving forward, these firms will need to undergo the COR® 2020 audit process to maintain their certification.
IHSA encourages impacted firms to begin preparations for this transition as soon as possible. The organization advises firms to review and update their current OHSMS to meet the specific requirements of the COR® 2020 audit. “We recommend that firms start this process early to ensure they have adequate time to address any gaps and familiarize themselves with the COR® 2020 standard,” IHSA noted.
For firms currently in the process of obtaining ISO 45001 certification but also interested in COR® 2020, IHSA clarified that they would need to complete the separate certification processes for each standard.
The IHSA has made resources available to assist firms during the transition, and its COR team is on hand to provide further support and clarification.
See the full announcement at https://www.ihsa.ca/News-Events/Latest/Upcoming-Changes-to-COR%C2%AE-2020-Equivalency-for-ISO.aspx