SECOR — the Small Employer Certificate of Recognition — is the safety certification that unlocks ISNetworld and Complyworks approval, which in turn unlocks work with major operators and general contractors across Alberta. Passing is 80%. But there's a big difference between scraping through at 80% and walking out at 90%+ — the higher score signals to clients that your safety program is real, not just paperwork assembled to pass a test.
Here's a plain-language breakdown of every major section, the gaps most Alberta contractors miss, and what it takes to push your score into the 90s.
How SECOR Is Scored
The SECOR audit covers six elements, each weighted differently. The auditor reviews your written program and then tests it against reality — interviewing workers, asking to see records, and checking whether what's written down is actually happening in the field.
| Element | What It Covers | Common Gap |
|---|---|---|
| S1 — Management & Leadership | Safety policy, management commitment, right to refuse | High |
| S2 — Hazard ID & Control | FLHA/JSEA process, hierarchy of controls, field verification | High |
| S3 — Training & Competency | Orientations, certifications, competency verification | Medium |
| S4 — Inspections | Worksite inspection schedule, defect tracking, corrective actions | High |
| S5 — Incident Investigation | Near miss reporting, investigation process, corrective action tracking | Medium |
| S6 — Emergency Response | Site-specific ERPs, muster points, drills | Medium |
S1 — Management & Leadership
What the auditor wants to see
A signed safety policy with a date. Evidence that management actually reviews safety performance — not just a statement that they do. A documented right-to-refuse process that workers can explain in their own words.
Where companies lose points
The right-to-refuse procedure exists in the manual but nobody told the workers about it. Your safety policy is signed but it's from 2019 and nobody's reviewed it since. Management reports on safety at meetings but nobody documented that they did.
How to fix it
Update the policy signature date. Add a standing agenda item to leadership meetings and keep minutes. Cover right-to-refuse in every worker orientation and have workers sign that they understood it.
S2 — Hazard Identification & Control
What the auditor wants to see
A consistent FLHA or JSEA process that field crews actually use. Documentation showing that identified hazards were controlled — not just listed. Evidence that the hierarchy of controls (elimination → substitution → engineering → administrative → PPE) is being applied, not just written about.
Where companies lose points
JSEAs are completed but they just say "PPE" for every hazard — no evidence of elimination or engineering controls being considered. Crews skip the JSEA when they're in a rush. Nobody can demonstrate how a hazard moves from identification to corrective action.
How to fix it
Build the JSEA process into your daily workflow so it happens automatically. Train supervisors to review JSEAs before work starts, not collect them at the end of the day. Add a field for "controls applied" that requires more than just ticking "PPE."
This is the section where digital forms win the most ground. GPS-stamped JSEAs completed at the job site, with a mandatory hierarchy-of-controls field, give the auditor exactly what they need. Paper forms completed in the truck at the end of the day raise questions about whether the assessment was actually done before work started.
S3 — Training & Competency
What the auditor wants to see
A worker orientation that covers your safety program, site hazards, and emergency procedures — with a signed record for every worker. Proof that workers are qualified to operate the equipment they're assigned to. A system for tracking when certifications expire.
Where companies lose points
Orientation records are missing for some workers. Certifications are tracked in someone's head or a disorganized spreadsheet. New workers got the "tour" but it was never documented. Competency verification is just "I watched him use the equipment and he seemed fine."
How to fix it
Build orientation sign-off into the onboarding process so it can't be skipped. Keep digital copies of every certification with expiry dates and automatic alerts. Document competency verification with a simple signed checklist tied to specific equipment.
S4 — Inspections
What the auditor wants to see
A scheduled worksite inspection program with completed inspection records. A corrective action tracking system — evidence that when something was flagged, someone fixed it and confirmed it was fixed. Equipment pre-start inspection records.
Where companies lose points
Inspections happen but the forms aren't kept. Defects get fixed but there's no paper trail showing when or by whom. Pre-starts are done in someone's head, not on paper. There's no formal corrective action process — just informal fixes.
How to fix it
Assign inspection schedules and track completion. Use digital pre-start forms tied to specific equipment units so the record is automatic. Build a simple corrective action log — date identified, date resolved, who resolved it.
S5 — Incident Investigation
What the auditor wants to see
Evidence that near misses are being reported, not just lost-time incidents. A documented investigation process that identifies root cause, not just immediate cause. Corrective actions that actually address the root cause.
Where companies lose points
Only formal incidents get reported. Near misses get handled verbally and forgotten. Investigations stop at "worker error" without asking why the error was possible. Corrective actions say "remind workers to be more careful" — which the auditor will flag immediately.
How to fix it
Make near-miss reporting frictionless — a simple mobile form takes 90 seconds. Train supervisors that "worker error" is never a root cause on its own. Every corrective action should address a system or process, not just a person.
S6 — Emergency Response
What the auditor wants to see
A site-specific Emergency Response Plan — not a generic template — with emergency contacts, muster points, and nearest hospital route specific to the job location. Evidence of drills or ERP reviews.
Where companies lose points
You have a generic ERP template but it's not filled in for specific job sites. Workers don't know where the muster point is. No evidence of any ERP review or drill ever happening.
How to fix it
Make site-specific ERP completion part of project setup. The form should take 10 minutes per site, not an afternoon. Post it at the job site and review it at the first tailgate meeting.
Pushing From 80% to 90%+
Companies that score in the 90s don't have better safety intentions — they have better systems. The difference is usually:
- Completion rate on forms. 90%+ scorers have documentation for 95%+ of their field activities. 80% scorers have a process but gaps in the records.
- Traceability. For every identified hazard or defect, there's a visible line from identification → corrective action → verification. No orphaned findings.
- Worker knowledge. The auditor talks to your workers. If they can describe your right-to-refuse process, your JSEA process, and your emergency muster point without hesitation, you score well. If they shrug, you lose points regardless of what's in your binder.
The audit is as much about culture as documentation. If your workers know the program and use it daily, the paperwork takes care of itself. If the paperwork is an afterthought done to satisfy auditors, experienced auditors can tell immediately.
WayOS is built around SECOR
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