The person who puts a railing along a river to prevent people from falling in will never know how many people they saved.
When it comes to construction workplace health and safety, big wins often go unnoticed. Auditing plays that quiet, proactive but crucial role in showing that safety doesn’t sit in a binder, it’s active and dynamic every day.
Construction leaders know that safety is not only about protecting people. Safety helps companies boost productivity, reduce costs and build trust with stakeholders. A Canadian-made solution makes all this possible for many construction companies and at its heart, is auditing.
A Pat on the Back for COR®
As Canadians, we are not in the habit of patting ourselves on the back. We look to bigger markets, downplay our success or keep busy with what still needs to be done.
The Certificate of Recognition program (COR®) has been proving its value on Canadian worksites and bottom lines for decades. Ben Snymanshared that COR® is one of the leading programs in the world, both in terms of the number of certified companies per capita (over 10,000 in Canada) and the quality of audits.
COR® stands apart from ISO or OSHA standards, which are not industry-specific, because it was designed for construction, by construction professionals and the construction industry. “COR® in Saskatchewan is developed and supported by the SCSA specifically to serve the Saskatchewan construction industry. The auditors understand what the auditees are going through, and that makes it so powerful,” Snyman said.
The consistency and standardization of the audit process are one of COR®’s biggest strengths. Other systems give auditors broad discretion. This means that every audit is slightly different. Snyman explained that in ISO 45001, different auditors may come up with different audit questions and criteria. They may also differ on how evidence is collected, such as how many interviews to do, or whether to do interviews at all.
In contrast, COR® uses a standardized, predefined set of questions and evidence-gathering methods. This not only makes audits more reliable and credible, but it also allows massive amounts of data to be collected and analyzed—something impossible with other non-standardized systems.
Year-to-year data, industry-level data and even provincial-level trends provide valuable insights not just for individual companies, but the entire industry.
Why Auditing Matters
Audits are often misunderstood as a boring paperwork exercise or a hurdle to jump for compliance. Snyman wants to shift that perspective. He sees audits as one of the most powerful proactive tools companies have to drive improvements in their safety performance.
“The way we test ourselves … is through an audit. If I want to know how I’m doing, I can use an audit as a gap analysis, as a check, and ultimately for certification. It’s how we prove due diligence,” Snyman said.
A well-conducted audit shows whether policies are being followed, if training is understood and whether employees feel safe and supported in their workplace. Snyman added, “If your people do not feel healthy, safe, protected and cared for, everything else falls on the wayside.”
It can also offer legal and financial protection for a company. A trail of solid audits shows regulators, insurers or even the courts that your company took reasonable steps to prevent harm.
Evidence Over Opinions
The best practice for audits is to focus on evidence. COR® requires that evidence be verifiable, relevant and sufficient. Snyman emphasized, “You don’t want an opinion-based audit; you want an evidence-based audit.”
COR® audits have the strength of a triangle—combining document review, worker interviews and site observations. This goes beyond checking that policies exist. It dives deeper into whether the procedures are understood, followed and effective. It also ensures that audits are objective and defensible.
But the key is competent auditors. Saskatchewan associations like the SCSA have invested in auditor training to ensure consistency. Auditor competency also includes integrity, fair presentation, confidentiality and independence.
“Without competent auditors, the audit loses all its value,” Snyman stated.
Unseen Heroes
Well-trained and experienced auditors bring insight, industry knowledge and an outside perspective to your safety program. Snyman stressed that the best auditors go beyond checking boxes and look for ways to add value. “Even if you score 100%, the best auditors will still leave you with something to improve,” Ben added.
That human value is something Snyman doesn’t think AI can replace. He acknowledged it is a helpful tool to automate document review—checking whether a safety policy is signed, dated and includes required elements. But AI can’t replace human judgment, site observations or worker interviews.
The goal of using AI should be to let qualified auditors focus on the complex, nuanced aspects of an organization. It can help automate tasks so auditors can focus on increasing their value through critical thinking and insight.
“It’s not a hero job,” Snyman said. “We’re in the railing-building business … doing things so that it never gets to that point where somebody needs to be saved. And I think that’s noble.”
Regular Auditing = Smart Business
The real power of auditing lies in doing it regularly over time—and reviewing your results to guide decisions. Regular audits help your business track progress, compare performance across sites and identify risks before incidents occur.
The benefits go beyond injury prevention. Audits also strengthen your reputation. Clients, insurers and employees all want to know that your company is serious about safety.
Snyman shared that organizations with strong safety programs don’t just reduce incidents—they also improve productivity and cut hidden costs. A strong safety culture often leads to stronger overall management systems, better quality control and reduced operational costs.
One example is a construction company that reduced vehicle maintenance and repair expenses by simply requiring drivers to do walk-around inspections—something learned and reinforced through the audit process.
Final Thoughts
Auditing may not seem exciting, but it saves lives.
Embracing COR® certification and conducting regular evidence-based audits isn’t just about compliance—it’s about leadership and building trust. You can show employees, clients and communities that your company values safety, competence and integrity.
In the end, that’s good for your business—and even better for your people.
AuditSoft x SCSA
AuditSoft is the most widely used software for COR® audits, trusted by 20+ leading safety associations across Canada. The SCSA partners with AuditSoft to provide members with user-friendly tools that power reliable audits and actionable insights. Learn more at auditsoft.co
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