A recent COR audit helped me uncover gaps in my safety program — and the Hong Kong fire showed why those gaps matter.
Recently, a COR audit forced me to confront gaps in my Safety program— and reminded me that non-compliance significantly increases the risk to the business. I made the changes necessary to ensure that I didn’t have a catastrophic event.
When the deadly apartment fire broke out in the high-rise building in Hong Kong in December 2025, the world watched in disbelief. Dozens of people were trapped in stairwells that acted like chimneys. Emergency exits were blocked or inaccessible. Smoke alarms and sprinklers failed. Residents reported that evacuation procedures had not been practiced in years, and inspection records were missing or outdated.
In the aftermath, investigators didn’t point to one single failure — they pointed to layers of oversight that had been neglected for far too long.
It wasn’t the fire that killed people — it was the system that failed long before the smoke appeared.
And as I followed the news, the parallels hit uncomfortably close to home.
Hours away in Canada, I had just lived through a COR audit that exposed how my own safety system had quietly deteriorated. Not because we didn’t care about safety — but because we assumed things were being done correctly... and never verified.
My wake-up call wasn’t a fire. It was a failed audit — and the realization that my full-time safety advisor had overlooked critical responsibilities that I, as the employer, was still legally accountable for.
The Hong Kong tragedy made one thing painfully clear: When the foundations of a safety system are ignored, disaster is only a matter of time — whether it's a fatal incident or the collapse of your compliance program.
What I learned from my COR audit
Before this audit, I had a full-time internal safety advisor. I trusted that everything was being managed. But the COR audit revealed the opposite:
And the hardest part: I realized I wasn’t just disappointed — I was legally responsible.
Many of my friends that owned businesses didn’t follow the necessary safety processes and so I thought I was doing ok. As I found out in Alberta, even if you hire internal advisors or subcontractors, the employer is still ultimately responsible for Health & Safety compliance under Alberta OHS law.
These weren’t “small admin mistakes.” These were compliance failures — the type that cause:
And all of it was happening without my knowledge. Going through this COR process really opened my eyes. I learned the truth about safety.
Why My Internal Safety Advisor Couldn’t Keep Up
Even though the advisor meant well, they didn’t have the experience and knowledge:
Alberta OHS Code is updated periodically, and employers must stay informed of changes to maintain compliance.
My advisor wasn’t tracking the changes or adjusting the safety program to match the updated audit criteria.
It was a lot of responsibility for one person — a reality many business owners don’t realize until it’s too late. Just like the Hong Kong fire, it’s all the little things that can add up to a catastrophic incident. It’s better to be prepared instead of finding out the hard way.
Important factors I learned from this situation:
Hiring an advisor does not shift liability. OHS makes the employer responsible, end of story.
If a serious incident happens, the company may face significant fines and penalties under Alberta OHS law, which vary depending on the nature and severity of the offence.
Without COR, I couldn’t bid on many significant projects where it is a contractual or client requirement.
Legislation changes constantly. It’s important to constantly update the system.
A junior safety advisor can get overwhelmed with the “how” of getting the requirements for the safety program in place.
So I decided to make a change...
Recently, I decided to work with a competent safety team. They were able to get my program in compliance with OHS legislation and the COR audit quickly. Now I have the confidence to know that the risk to my company is minimal, and I feel assured that I will pass the COR audit. The team at Safety Ahead Ltd. did an awesome job.
Not sure your fire safety procedures would hold up under an OHS inspection? We can walk through what Alberta requires.
For more information, see the link below: ➡ https://www.safetyahead.ca/Services/Safety-Ahead-as-a-Service
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Written by
Safety Ahead Team
Alberta-based safety consultants with decades of field experience — COR auditors, OHS advisors, and WCB specialists working with employers across the province.
About Safety AheadWe help Alberta employers build seasonal safety plans and emergency response procedures that actually get followed in the field — not just filed in a binder.
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