Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certificate

As part of its commitment to safety and the provision of safe working environments for contractors, employees, and residents, the City of Toronto requires suppliers of construction to posses an Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) certificate as a condition of the construction tendering process.

What is an OHSMS certificate?

As defined in the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), a health and safety management system “means a coordinated system of procedures, processes and other measures that is designed to be implemented by employers in order to promote continuous improvement in occupational health and safety”.

An OHSMS certificate is a formal recognition that an organization has implemented a systematic approach to managing health and safety risks in the workplace. This certification demonstrates the organization’s commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. In Ontario, Canada, an OHSMS certificate can be obtained by complying with an established health and safety management standard and undergoing an external audit which ensures compliance with the standard has been achieved.

Effective March 31, 2025, acceptable OHSMS certifications include:

1. IHSA COR® 2020 – Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) Certificate of Recognition (COR)® 2020
   • For Suppliers with a Certificate of Recognition issued in a jurisdiction other than Ontario, the Supplier must also submit a Letter of Reciprocity from the IHSA along with the COR certification.
2. MLITSD SOSE – Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development of Ontario (MLITSD) Supporting Ontario Safe Employers Program (SOSE) certificate; or,
3. ISO 45001:2018 – International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 45001:2018 certificate. ISO certificates must be issued by a certification body that is accredited by an accreditation body that is recognized by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

Applicability

Adherence to the OHSMS certification requirement is mandatory for all construction contracts at the qualification stage of the bidding process and maintained throughout the duration of the contract, regardless of the contract value. This helps ensure that health and safety protocols are uniformly applied across all contracted City construction projects, minimizing construction risks, and safeguarding the well-being of workers, City employees, and residents.

Currently, sub-contractors to contractors will not be expected to hold an OHSMS certification but they will be expected to:

• Meet or exceed the elements of the OHSMS certification and
• Adhere to the certified constructor’s Health and Safety Program.

The City, in its sole discretion, maintains the authority to accept or reject a bidder’s OHSMS certificate and/or request a copy of the accompanying audit report.

For consultant assignments, the OHSMS certificate requirement may be selectively applied based on the complexity and risk factors of the assignment, as determined by the City and as indicated in the solicitation documents.