EMR (Experience Modification Rate)
An insurance industry metric comparing a company's workers' compensation claims experience to the average for businesses of similar size and industry.
Key Facts
- An EMR of 1.0 = average claims experience for your industry
- Below 1.0 = better than average (lower premiums)
- Based on 3-year claims history compared to industry/size peers
- Directly multiplies workers’ comp premium (1.25 EMR = 25% higher)
EMR (also called Experience Mod, E-Mod, or X-Mod) is calculated by rating bureaus (like NCCI) using the employer's 3-year claims history compared to the expected loss rate for their industry and size class. An EMR of 1.0 represents average performance. Below 1.0 means fewer/less severe claims than average (lower premiums); above 1.0 means more (higher premiums). EMR directly multiplies the base workers' comp premium — a 1.25 EMR means 25% higher premiums. Many construction and industrial clients require contractors to maintain EMR below 1.0 or a specific threshold.
Safety Performance Metrics Compared
Key workplace safety metrics used by employers, OSHA, and insurance carriers.
| Type | Formula Basis | What It Measures | Used By | Good Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRIR | (Incidents × 200K) ÷ Hours | All recordable incidents | OSHA, clients | < 3.0 (construction) |
| DART | (DART cases × 200K) ÷ Hours | Severe cases (days away/restricted) | Insurance, clients | Below industry avg |
| EMR | 3-yr claims vs expected | Claims experience vs average | Insurance carriers | < 1.0 |
| CSA Score | Inspection/crash/violation data | Carrier safety across 7 BASICs | FMCSA | Below intervention threshold |
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