Safety Management System (SMS) — Alberta
A safety management system (SMS) is a structured, documented approach to managing health and safety risks in an organization. In Alberta, an SMS is the foundation of COR certification and typically includes a written safety program, hazard identification processes, training systems, inspection and audit processes, and incident investigation procedures.
A safety management system is more than a safety manual. It is the entire set of policies, procedures, processes, and records that an organization uses to identify hazards, control risks, train workers, and continuously improve safety performance. In Alberta, the COR standard defines what a complete SMS looks like.
Elements of an Alberta SMS
The Alberta COR standard defines the required elements of a safety management system. These include: management leadership and commitment, hazard identification and assessment, hazard controls, worker competency and training, worker participation, inspections, emergency response, incident investigation, and program administration.
Each element must be documented, implemented, and verifiable. A COR audit checks all of these elements — not just whether they exist on paper, but whether they are actually working in the field.
SMS vs safety program
Many Alberta employers use 'safety program' and 'safety management system' interchangeably. Technically, the safety program is the written documentation — the manual, the procedures, the forms. The SMS is the broader system: the documentation plus the people, processes, and culture that make it work.
An employer can have an excellent safety program on paper and a poor SMS in practice. The gap between the written program and what actually happens in the field is what COR auditors are trained to find.
Frequently asked questions
Related services & resources
Need help with Safety?
We work with Alberta employers on OHS orders, COR audits, safety programs, and more.
Request a Consultation