The short answer
EMR, the experience modification rate, compares a contractor's workers compensation claims history with others in its industry: 1.0 is average, below 1.0 is better. TRIR, the total recordable incident rate, is how many OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses a contractor had per 100 full-time workers in a year. Both are useful. Neither tells you everything.
EMR
- What it is: a multiplier on the contractor's workers compensation premium, based on its own claims history
- How to read it: 1.0 is average for the industry; below 1.0 is better than average; above 1.0 is worse
- Look-back: calculated from several prior years of claims, so it lags recent performance
- Limits: small companies have fewer data points, and one serious claim can move the number a lot
TRIR
- Formula: OSHA recordable cases x 200,000 / total hours worked
- Why 200,000: it represents 100 full-time employees working a year
- How to read it: lower is better; compare against the industry and against the contractor's own trend
- Limits: small hour totals swing the rate, and it depends on accurate recordkeeping
Read them together
| Pattern | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Low EMR, low TRIR | A consistent safety record |
| Low TRIR, high EMR | Fewer incidents, but serious or costly claims |
| Rising TRIR over three years | A program losing ground, even if EMR has not caught up |
| Missing numbers | Ask why. New companies may not have an EMR yet |
Ask for three years of each, and for the OSHA logs behind TRIR if your process allows.
What the numbers cannot tell you
- Whether this job will have a site-specific safety plan
- Whether technicians are certified for at-height work
- Whether the crews on your site are employees or subcontractors
- Whether they will ask for your anchor documentation
Ask S&K
Ask for the safety documentation your process requires. We are glad to share it.
Score every bidder with the vendor qualification scorecard, or read the full Vendor Selection, Compliance, and Procurement guide. To qualify S&K, ask for our certificates of insurance and safety documentation, or request a quote.
