AuditSoft, Canada's leading provider of safety and compliance auditing software, has expanded its partnership with the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA) to revolutionize construction safety certification. This collaboration establishes AuditSoft's advanced audit software as the exclusive platform for conducting the IHSA's National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) exam audits, a critical certification for health and safety professionals across Canada's construction industry.
The partnership represents a significant advancement in preparing health and safety professionals for the technological demands of modern safety auditing. Students pursuing the NCSO® designation will now exclusively use AuditSoft's audit software for their exam submissions, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet real-world safety auditing requirements. This initiative positions IHSA and AuditSoft at the forefront of shaping the next generation of health and safety professionals by integrating industry-standard digital tools into the certification process.
The adoption of AuditSoft's platform brings several key benefits to the NCSO® program. Students and professionals in Ontario's construction safety sector will gain hands-on experience with digital audit tools, providing practical exposure to software they're likely to encounter in their careers. The streamlined submission and review process for exam audits is expected to result in more efficient and accurate evaluations, potentially leading to faster certification for candidates.
Jennifer McKenzie, Director of Stakeholder & Client Engagement at IHSA, expressed enthusiasm about the integration, noting that AuditSoft was successfully implemented in IHSA's Certificate of Recognition (COR®) program in 2023, and they anticipate similar benefits for the NCSO® program. Peter Spence, VP of Partnerships at AuditSoft, emphasized the initiative's role in developing the future workforce, stating that it will streamline the exam process and help develop workers by familiarizing them with essential tools for raising safety standards.
The NCSO® designation is a professional certification that verifies an individual's competency in construction safety management, ensuring they meet national standards of training, practical application, years of experience, and written performance measurement as set out by the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA). This certification is recognized across Canada and highly valued by construction industry employers, demonstrating a person's commitment to workplace safety and ability to apply safety principles effectively on construction sites.
This partnership between AuditSoft and IHSA represents a significant advancement in construction safety education and certification. By integrating cutting-edge audit software into the NCSO® program, the initiative elevates the standard of safety management in the construction industry, ensuring newly certified professionals are not only well-versed in safety principles but also proficient in using the latest technological tools to implement and manage safety protocols effectively.
As the construction industry continues to evolve and embrace digital solutions, this partnership sets a new benchmark for safety certification programs. It underscores the importance of technological proficiency alongside traditional safety knowledge, preparing professionals to meet the complex challenges of modern construction environments. The initiative is likely to have far-reaching effects, potentially influencing safety standards and practices across the Canadian construction sector and beyond.
