AuditSoft Becomes Exclusive Platform for IHSA's National Construction Safety Officer Certification

The Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA) has expanded its partnership with AuditSoft, making the company's advanced audit software the exclusive platform for conducting the IHSA's National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) exam audits. This collaboration represents a critical development for health and safety professionals in the construction industry across Canada, as the NCSO® certification verifies an individual's competency in construction safety management and is highly valued by employers nationwide.

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. 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 in an industry that increasingly relies on technology for auditing efficiency, accuracy, and data insights. The partnership aims to enhance the skills and readiness of professionals entering the construction safety field.

The adoption of AuditSoft's platform brings several key benefits to the NCSO® program, including providing students and professionals in Ontario's construction safety sector with hands-on experience using digital audit tools they are 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 workforce development, stating that it will streamline the exam process and help develop the future workforce by familiarizing them with the tools needed to raise safety standards in the construction industry. The NCSO® designation ensures that individuals have met the 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), demonstrating a person's commitment to workplace safety and their ability to apply safety principles effectively on construction sites.

This partnership represents a significant advancement in construction safety education and certification by ensuring that 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 collaboration sets a new benchmark for safety certification programs, underscoring the importance of technological proficiency alongside traditional safety knowledge to meet the complex challenges of modern construction environments.