In order to obtain your SAFE Companies certification, your company needs to go through the following steps:

Step 1 – Complete and Submit the SAFE Companies Registration Form

The registration fee for an Individual Owner Operator is $131.25, including GST.

Before you start the registration process, make sure your have:

• your company's general contact information
• payment information (Credit Card number, expiration , CVD 3 digit #)
• WSBC account number and Classification Unit number
• a count of all workers (field and administrative employees, and contractors)

You can register online through our secure site by clicking here.

If you don’t want to register online, you have the option of downloading a pdf version of the form by clicking here.

Completed forms can be mailed or faxed to the Council.

Fax: 250-741-1068

Mailing Address:
BC Forest Safety Council
420 Albert Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 2V7

Once the Council receives your completed registration form and confirms payment, we will send you a SAFEty Log, which gives you information and tools to use to improve your safety activities and guide you through the SAFE Certification process.

Step 2 – Complete SAFE Companies Training Requirements

As an Individual Owner Operator you need to attend a ½ day IOO SAFEty Course to learn the basics of safety planning for owner operator companies.  You will also have the chance to get some face-to-face advice about completing your SAFEty Log and SAFE Companies audit.  The training course must be completed by the IOO, not an administrative person.  It must be the Operator.

Training is held all over the province.  Some sessions are single occupation i.e. for truckers.  Some contractors have arranged sessions for owner operators working for them.  If you would be interested in a special session, please contact the Council.

More info on training can be found here or by visiting the Council's training calendar. To visit the Council's training calendar please click the button below.

Step 3 – Check if you measure up 

After the training you can assess your safety procedures against the IOO SAFE standard. You can identify gaps, and the information you need to make sure your program is complete.

Step 4 – Complete your SAFEty Log and Submit Your Audit

Your SAFEty Log acts as both your safety record and your SAFE Companies audit. 

Your submission is 4 easy steps away from SAFE certification:

Step 1. Complete the audit submission checklist from your SAFETy Log

Step 2. Complete your contractor list in this section from your SAFETy Log

Step 3. Collect supporting records on your safety activities including:

• ERP documentation;
• Travel plans;
• Training and certification log with copies of certificates;
• Safe work procedure sign offs;
• Records related to your type of work:
  • Daily work activity forms, radio frequency log, vehicle mileage log;
• Pre-work planning logs;
• Equipment maintenance logs;
• Forest Safety Accord sign offs;
• Safety meeting logs;
• Safety alert logs;
• Incident / close call reports (if applicable);
• Road conditions reports (if applicable).

Step 4. Mail Audit Submission to the Council

Please mail it to:
BC Forest Safety Council
Attention: SAFE Companies
420 Albert Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 2V7

After the quality assurance review is done, SAFE Companies certification will be awarded to successful audit submissions; feedback on the both the audit report and the health and safety program will be sent to the company.

The Council will also register for Certificate of Recognition (COR) rebates with WorkSafeBC on behalf of the company.  WorkSafeBC has the final authority over awarding COR rebates, which are usually calculated in June of each year and sent directly to the company.

Needing SAFE Certification to work, but your business situation makes it hard to achieve? Find out more.

Step 5 – Maintain your SAFE Companies Certification

To maintain your SAFE Companies certification you will need to send us a completed SAFEty Log every year.  Every three years, the audit receives a full quality assurance review and your certification is renewed.  You will continue to receive your COR rebates every year as long as you maintain SAFE certification and are in good standing with WorkSafeBC.