What is required to start each three-year audit cycle in COR certification?

To initiate each three-year audit cycle in COR (Certificate of Recognition) certification, an external audit is required. This process ensures an objective evaluation of the company's health and safety management system by an independent auditor who is not a part of the organization. The external audit provides a thorough assessment of compliance with regulatory requirements, effectiveness of current safety practices, and identification of areas for improvement.

The use of an external auditor is crucial because it brings a fresh perspective and helps to validate the effectiveness of the safety management system against established standards. This external verification builds credibility and ensures that the company adheres to high safety standards, which is essential for maintaining the COR certification.

In contrast to internal audits, which assess performance from within the organization, an external audit offers impartiality, ensuring that assessments are fair and unbiased. Other options such as compliance reports and documentation reviews are important aspects of safety management but do not serve as the foundational step to kick off the audit cycle for COR certification. The external audit is the definitive starting point in this process.