Leadership Conference
On February 26, 2015, the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) held a Leadership Conference and COR Open House at the Centre for Health & Safety Innovation in Mississauga. The conference celebrated leadership within the construction industry by recognizing companies who have taken the necessary steps to obtain a Certificate of Recognition (COR) in order to ensure their workers are protected. Jason Ball, President of Ball Construction, acted as a keynote speaker, sharing the challenges faced on the road to reaching COR and, more importantly, the benefits gained.
“It took us 14 months to achieve COR. It was a long, hard road, and worth every step,” Jason said, as he spoke about the major impact the certificate had in improving working conditions at Ball Construction.
Since COR was implemented, job site injuries have decreased by 73%. Safety awareness has improved drastically; resulting in a major increase of worker reported safety hazards, which was 10 times greater than previous years. The company also saw their team strengthen throughout the COR process, with both office and onsite workers developing stronger communication skills.
“As true industry leaders we challenge all companies to embrace COR and pursue the certification. We will mentor any company in our industry that needs help in this pursuit. Safety is not proprietary and should be shared for the good of the workers” explained Jason to the crowd of over 200 attendees.
Jason and the Ball Construction team urges companies to get on board with this new and improved national standard. They encourage those with COR to step forward and help guide other companies who are pursuing the certification. “Together, we can all help build a safe and successful Ontario” concluded Ball.
