COR & SECOR · Alberta
COR vs SECOR: which one does your business need?
They're the same idea at two sizes. The right one comes down to how many workers you have — and where your business is headed. Here's the honest breakdown.
Quick answer
If you have 10 or fewer workers, SECOR is your certificate path — it's accepted by most Alberta primes and qualifies you for the same WCB PIR discount. If you have more than 10 workers, COR is the standard owners and general contractors expect. SECOR is often manageable in-house; we also help on scoped SECOR work when you want it. Full COR is where our core team engagement usually scales. Either way, we build programs to the COR gold standard.
COR vs SECOR, side by side
| COR | SECOR | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Employers with more than 10 workers | Employers with 10 or fewer workers |
| What it certifies | A full safety management system, audited across all elements | A working safety system scaled for a small employer |
| Recognized to bid? | Yes — accepted by owners, public bodies, and GCs | Yes — accepted by most primes in place of COR |
| WCB PIR discount | Qualifies (10% year 1, 5% maintained) | Also qualifies for the PIR discount |
| Audit standard | 50% on each element, 80% overall | Small-employer audit tool |
| Who typically delivers it | Where Safety Ahead does its core work | Often in-house; we help on scoped engagements when you want support |
More than 10 workers
You're on the COR path
- Full program build and audit-ready system
- Internal audit and external audit prep
- Senior team beside your people the whole way
10 or fewer workers
SECOR is your certificate path
Many small employers handle SECOR in-house — that's a common path. When you want hands-on help, our team takes scoped SECOR work (program build, field review, audit prep) with the same gold-standard rigour we use for COR.
When you grow past 10 workers and full COR becomes the requirement, that's where our core engagement usually scales. No rush — we'll be here when you're ready.
SECOR explained and how we helpCommon questions
On the COR path? Let's map it out.
If you've grown past 10 workers or an owner is asking for COR, we'll lay out a credible path to a certificate that holds up. Growing toward it from SECOR? Reach out when you're ready — no pressure.