OSSE SPOTLIGHT

List of Frequently Asked Questions COR/OSSE

Have a question about COR/OSSE? Take a look at this brief list of some of the more common questions. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, email it to [email protected].

About Auditors
How do I become a certified internal auditor?

To become an internal auditor, candidates must:

  • Complete the Internal Auditor Training Course
  • Successfully pass the certification exam
  • Conduct a student/maintenance audit

Once the student/maintenance audit is approved, the individual is certified as an internal auditor for their employer for a three-year term.

No, auditors are not required to retake the internal auditor course as long as they maintain their qualifications.

In order to maintain your auditor qualifications, you must:

  • Conduct two (2) maintenance audits within three (3) years.
  • Complete at least seven hours of OHS related training and provide proof of completion
  • Re-sign the Code of Conduct and Ethics

When this criteria is met, the internal auditor certification is renewed for another three years. This process of recertification is repeated every three years.

Where can I find the latest revision of the audit tool to be used for a maintenance audit?
Check the MSABC website before starting an audit to ensure you are using the most recent revisions of the audit documents.

Yes, all auditors must download the latest version of the audit tools from the MSABC website. However, if a new version is released during an ongoing audit, the auditor may continue using the previous version. Using PDF versions of the audit tool will no longer be accepted.

Find the latest version of the audit tool here.

No, the interview questions document is a guideline to help auditors collect answers from interviewees. Auditors must collect answers through an interview process to complete the audit tool.
How do I submit an audit package to MSABC?

All audit packages must be submitted via a secure SharePoint link provided by MSABC. Auditors are asked to request the creation of a SharePoint link when needed. Please do no compress your files into one file, and a business email account is preferred. Using an Gmail and a Google Account may be acceptable upon request. Once uploaded, please notify the OSSE Department that your files have been submitted.

What you will need to submit as part of the audit packages will be determined by the size of your organization.

For Large Employers:

  • OHS Audit Tool (Excel)
  • OHS Audit Summary Report (PDF)
  • Opening and Closing Attendance Records
  • Organizational Chart

For Small and Micro Employers:

  • OHS Audit Tool (Excel)
  • OHS Audit Summary Report (PDF)
  • Opening and Closing Attendance Records
  • Organizational Chart
  • Evidence of OHS Management Systems as required in each question of the Audit Tool
  • Evidence of interview questions is not required to be submitted to MSABC

Most auditors will have already been provided with a SharePoint link and instructions via email from our IT Partner, Cloud9.

If you cannot locate the email, are experiencing technical difficulties, or did not receive a link, please contact the OSSE  Department at
[email protected]

How long are COR/OSSE certifications valid?

COR/OSSE certifications are valid for three (3) years with the following considerations:

Year 1 (Certification year): A certification audit is conducted and accepted.

  • Large companies must use an external auditor.
  • Micro and Small companies may use an internal or external auditor.

Year 2 (First year after certification): Maintenance audit #1 is conducted at least 6 months after certification date. Companies can complete a maintenance audit with an internal auditor or an external auditor.

Year 3 (Second year after certification): Similar to the previous year, the company conducts their Maintenance audit #2 with an internal auditor or external auditor.

Year 4 (Recertification year): Companies conduct a re-certification audit using the same criteria as for Year 1.

  • Large companies must use an external auditor.
  • Micro and Small companies may use an internal or external auditor.

Companies fall into different categories based on the number of people (or full-time equivalent employees (FTEs)) at the company. Using the number of full-time employees at a company helps MSABC ensure that the audit process is appropriate for the size of the workforce at a company.

  • Large Companies – Total number of employees is equal to 20+ FTEs or more
  • Small Companies – Total number of employees is between 10-19 FTEs
  • Micro Companies – Total number of employees is equal to 9 FTEs or fewer

Use the following formula, MSABC calculates how many full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) at the company.

FTE = Total number of hours worked by part-time employees per year ÷ 2,000 hours

For example, if Company A employs 5 full-time employees and 20 part-time employees through the year. And the total number of hours worked at the company by part-time employees for the year is 15,200 hours, the calculation would be as follows.

15,200 hours ÷ 2,000 hours = 7.6 FTE
7.6 FTE + 5 full-time employees = 12.6

Using this calculation, Company A employs a total of 12.6 FTEs and is therefore classified as a Small Company and can use the audit tools and requirements for a small company.

MSABC is committed to helping employers improve workplace health and safety, reduce injuries, and lower associated costs.

To measure the success of these initiatives and recognize employers with outstanding safety performance annually at the Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala, MSABC asks employers to provide the Employer Summary Overview from their WorkSafeBC Employer Report (found on page 3).

WorkSafeBC does not share this data for non-corporate members, even those that are COR/OSSE-certified.

How is my company recognized as being COR/OSSE certified?

All current COR/OSSE-certified companies are listed on our website under on the page, COR/OSSE Hall of Fame.

At the time of certification, our Marketing Department will work with companies to determine how companies want to receive additional recognition. Ways we continue to work with company’s to recognize their COR/OSSE certification includes:

  • Speakers at an internal celebration
  • Media event and/or news release at time of certification
  • Recognition through MSABC social media channels
  • Announcement in local trade publications (where possible)
  • Speaking opportunities for the company at local in-person events or virtually
  • Blog post on website about the COR/OSSE certified company
  • Award(s) and brief speaking opportunity through the Safety Pinnacle Awards

The Safety Pinnacle COR/OSSE Awards is a recognition program by MSABC that celebrates companies and leaders for excellence in workplace health and safety. This program was created to:

  • Honour organizations and individuals demonstrating outstanding commitment to health and safety in BC’s manufacturing and food processing sectors.
  • Recognize continuous improvement and leadership in safety culture.

These awards are presented annually at the Safety Pinnacle Awards event and include multiple levels and categories for COR/OSSE-certified companies.

Award Levels and Brief Criteria

  • Topaz Award: Granted to companies that have successfully developed and implemented a comprehensive health and safety management system meeting COR/OSSE certification standards. Any company  receiving COR/OSSE certification for the first time in the previous year can be recognized with this award.
  • Sapphire Award: Recognizes organizations for ongoing leadership commitment to health and safety excellence, requiring executives to earn development points through training, advocacy, and mentorship.
  • Emerald Award: Awarded to companies who have maintained COR/OSSE certification, demonstrated leadership commitment, and who have successfully reduced injury rates below their classification unit average over three years.
  • Ruby Award: Presented to companies who meet the criteria for an Emerald Award and who have improved their WorkSafeBC experience rating by 10% over three years post-COR/OSSE certification.
  • Diamond Award: Recognizes continued excellence and leadership in safety performance.

Companies can only receive each of these Safety Pinnacle Awards once. Companies interested in receiving these merit awards MUST submit an application form outlining their eligibility for each award by February of the following year.

» Find more information on each of these awards, criteria, and how to apply.

Individuals, teams, and companies are nominated annually for the Safety Pinnacle Excellence Awards.

The Safety Excellence Awards recognize BC manufacturing and food processing businesses for innovation and excellence in health and safety. Companies, teams, and leaders from across the province compete for these prestigious awards.

Three (3) distinct individual awards recognize business owners, executives, safety leaders, and safety champions for exceptional leadership and contributions to workplace safety.

These awards are:

  • Soaring Eagle Leadership Award: For business owners, presidents, CEOs, or other senior business executives in a BC company.
  • Apex Award: Any individual employed at a MSABC member* or OSSE certified organization.
  • Maureen Shaw Safety Legacy Award: Any individual employed at a MSABC member* or OSSE certified organization.

There are five (5) team category awards that recognize a company’s commitment and innovation to workplace safety and going above and beyond regulatory requirements to prioritize protecting their teams.

These awards are:

  • Joint Health and Safety Committee Excellence Award
  • Manufacturing Safety Innovator Award
  • Small Business People First Award
  • Fantastic Four Risk Control Leader Award
  • Culture of Courage Award
» Nominate someone today

The Safety Pinnacle Awards is an annual celebration of safety—the people, teams, and companies who have committed ensuring people go home safe.

This is done through continual improvement, education, and safety innovation. 

At the Safety Pinnacle Awards event, companies who have received COR/OSSE certification in the previous year are recognized, as are companies who continue to remain COR/OSSE certified. Individuals and teams who are nominated for other non-COR/OSSE certification safety awards are also recognized during this event.

Anyone can attend the Safety Pinnacle Awards event, and it occurs every June.

» Learn more and get tickets