AgSafe offers a Certificate of Recognition (COR) program for large and small employers in British Columbia’s agriculture industry and ensures WorkSafeBC is aware of all COR-certified agriculture employers.
The new website helps employers assess their readiness for a program audit. AgSafe COR program administrator Stephanie Swain provided Progressive Dairyman with responses to commonly asked questions below.
What is Safety Ready?
The Safety Ready COR Self-Assessment website is designed to assist organizations in assessing their health and safety management system readiness for a COR program audit. Once that is done, the tool provides feedback on your readiness for a COR review.
The COR program is a voluntary WorkSafeBC program that recognizes and rewards employers who go above and beyond regulatory requirements to promote workplace health and safety, and reduce risks.
Why was it developed?
Between 2013 and 2017, 641 agricultural workers were seriously injured and seven killed in work-related incidents. AgSafe is committed to reducing the number of agriculture-related workplace deaths and injuries.
They are doing this by offering health and safety programs, training and evaluation, consultation, guidance and free online tools like the self-assessment.
Who should use it?
The self-assessment tool begins with a questionnaire to be completed by the person responsible for overseeing the safety management system in your organization.
How can users access it?
They can go through the AgSafe BC website COR page.
Is there a cost to use it?
This is a free resource; AgSafe does not charge for use of the assessment tool. Set up your account by going to the website.
The self-assessment tool is also available to companies not classified as agriculture, such as landscape professionals, tree services or animal handling, but have been advised to work with AgSafe for their COR certification.
What are some unique features?
- Provides a savable pdf summary report of your answers indicating your progress in creating a COR-compliant health and safety management system
- Indication of your readiness for a COR audit for each of the eight elements
- Suggestions on what additional work is required to receive a green light in an element
- Links to resources to help you with continued development of that element
- The web tool will also help you calculate your organization’s potential WorkSafeBC incentive payment.
How does it work?
The user clicks through seven to eight elements of a safety management system designed to streamline the process and help employers become more familiar with what they need to do to reduce safety risks in their organization.
There are three levels of readiness and, depending on your organization’s situation, you may need assistance from an AgSafe adviser or consultant to become audit-ready.
What feedback have you received from users?
“The COR self-assessment tool is very user-friendly, as you are able to log in and out of the tool and work on the elements at your discretion. It provided helpful hints, a place to make notes; it flagged outstanding questions and has easy access to resources for reference.
The red-, yellow-, green-light system indicated which elements needed more work or which were ready to go. When meeting up with an AgSafe BC safety adviser or consultant, the printable summary report showed whether the company was in line to challenge the COR audit or if more assistance was required in certain areas. It is a great tool, and I would highly recommend it!” —Greenhouse Industry Expert 
PHOTO: AgSafe is committed to reducing the number of agriculture-related workplace deaths and injuries. They are doing this by offering health and safety programs, training and evaluation, consultation, guidance and free online tools like the self-assessment. Photo courtesy of AgSafe.
