A numerical score calculated by insurers that compares your company's workplace injury claims to industry averages. A score below 1.0 indicates a safer-than-average record; above 1.0 signals higher risk. Many prime contractors and operators require subcontractors to maintain a low EMR to qualify for bid lists.
EMR (Experience Modification Rate)
Related Terms
Cease-And-Desist Order
ComplianceA legal directive requiring a subcontractor to immediately stop a specific activity, such as work on a contested site or allegedly unsafe operations. Violating the order can result in fines, contract termination, or legal liability. Field crews must halt the named activity until the order is legally resolved or lifted.
Excavation Safety Program
ComplianceA documented safety plan subcontractors must follow when performing any digging, trenching, or ground-breaking work on a job site. It outlines hazard assessments, soil classifications, protective systems, and entry protocols. Clients and prime contractors typically require proof of a compliant program before mobilisation.
Facility Permit
ComplianceA site-specific authorisation required before subcontractors can perform work at an owner-operated facility. It outlines approved work scopes, safety conditions, and access restrictions. Failing to secure one before mobilising can result in removal from site or contract penalties.
Ministry of Labour (mol)
ComplianceProvincial government body that enforces workplace health, safety, and employment standards on job sites. MOL inspectors can issue stop-work orders, fines, or charges against subcontractors found in violation. Field crews must maintain compliant safety programs and documentation at all times.
Nuclear-Grade
ComplianceDescribes materials, components, or workmanship meeting strict standards for use in nuclear facilities. Subcontractors must hold specific certifications and follow rigorous documentation requirements. Expect intensive quality assurance audits and zero tolerance for deviations.
DOE (Department of Energy)
ComplianceA U.S. federal agency that regulates energy production, sets safety standards, and oversees projects involving nuclear, fossil fuel, and renewable energy. Subcontractors working on DOE-funded or DOE-regulated sites must meet strict compliance and security requirements. Contracts tied to DOE projects often include additional reporting obligations and certified personnel requirements.
Latest Compliance News
What ABC's STEP Safety Data Means for Subs Bidding Against Uncertified Rivals
A new ABC report shows STEP-certified contractors post incident rates 686% better than the industry average, a gap that increasingly shows up in EMR calculations, insurance pricing and GC prequalification scoring.
1 month agoComplianceABC Data Shows Structured Safety Programs Cut Incident Rates by 85% Versus Industry Average
Associated Builders and Contractors' 2026 Health and Safety Performance Report finds that contractors using the ABC STEP system achieve incident rates 686% safer than the national construction average, with major implications for subcontractors managing EMR thresholds and bid eligibility.
3 months agoComplianceWashington Eyes New Certification Rules for Forklifts Lifting Suspended Loads
Washington's L&I is drafting rule changes clarifying when forklift operators need crane-level certification for suspended loads, following a contractor petition over the state's August 2025 crane rule update.
2 days agoComplianceOSHA Fines Maine Pulp Mill $794K After Two Workers Die in Gas Release
ISHN reports OSHA hit Woodland Pulp LLC with nearly $800K in penalties after a hydrogen sulfide gas exposure killed two workers and a separate hydrogen peroxide fire followed weeks later at the Baileyville, Maine mill.
4 days agoRelated Guides
When a Jobsite Incident Happens: What Field Workers Need to Know Before Signing Anything
What to do after a jobsite injury or incident, what your rights are before signing incident reports, how workers' compensation works, and how to protect yourself on multi-employer worksites.
Compliance GuideOSHA Citations on Multi-Employer Worksites: What Subcontractors Need to Know
Learn how OSHA's multi-employer citation policy works, why subcontractors get cited for hazards they didn't create, and how to protect your company on operator-controlled job sites.
Compliance GuideHow to Read and Negotiate an Oilfield Master Service Agreement (MSA): A Subcontractor's Guide
Learn which MSA clauses actually matter for oilfield subcontractors: indemnity, insurance, payment terms, and change orders. Know what you're signing.
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