In our industry, EMR stands for Experience Modification Rate. Ultimately, it is a measure of safety within a company. Insurance companies use this number to determine how often they believe that certain company will file a worker’s compensation claim.
An EMR of 1.0 is average, and new businesses will sit at this number throughout their first few years while their EMR is established. From then on, insurance companies will use information from other companies within the same industry to measure individual scores. A rate above 1.0 indicates more claims and a less safe environment, while anything under 1.0 shows lower risk. Information used to measure these numbers include the number of incidents, the type, and the amount paid out for each one. However, companies don’t just want a low EMR for lower insurance rates. Considering this is one of the few performance standards that is measurable across the board, it effects a company’s job capabilities. Many contracts require a certain EMR to even bid on a job, and oftentimes, preference is given to the lowest scores. This is true for private and government contracts. Don’t miss out on job possibilities or spend unnecessary money on preventable accidents. Make sure you have systems in place to adequately train and keep employees up to date on best practices and safety information. Preplanning for jobs, establishing safety plans, and actively enforcing safety policies can have a large impact on a company’s EMR rating in future years. With our 2020 EMR rating sitting at 0.72, RJ Smith remains focused on safety practices and procedures. We are able to maintain our low rating by offering rigorous training and awareness programs for our entire company. RJ Smith is lucky to have employees and clients that embrace our strong commitment to safety and help us to improve every day. For more information on our practices and procedures, explore our page about Safety .
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When thinking about technological advances from the past 2 decades, one does not often think about the ways in which technology has reshaped the construction business. Updated technologies ensure that construction jobs are completed with more accuracy, more efficiency, and with better communication. Here are a couple of new programs we’re using to streamline our services:
Autodesk Suite - Civil 3D This visual programming software aids in the drafting, design, and construction processes by offering a range of tools for 3D layouts. With the ability to look at surface modeling, surveying, corridor modeling, interoperability and reimagining plan production, this software ensures all teams can access up-to-date information and connect with a plan quickly and easily. Without needing to go through countless papers for information, everyone on a job site will have access to the same information, avoiding issues and delays. Scheduling Software – P6 Primavera This software gives project managers and schedulers the ability to balance large-scale and individual jobs all in one place. Information can be integrated with other programs in order to manage accounting, capital, billing, or other timelines. In such a fast-paced environment, keeping an eye on resources for a job is so important! Takeoff Software – Carlson Takeoff and Bluebeam Systems such as these make it easier to digitize multiple files throughout the entire building process. It also expedites the estimating processing by providing more accurate estimates, eliminating problems with numbers or quantities later. Similar to aforementioned systems, these also provide 3D capabilities. Although a dynamic approach, these technologies create organized workflows regardless of location and invite collaboration among employees and clients. Drones Drones have exploded in popularity over recent years, but they are extremely effective in our industry. Surveying land has become a much faster process with less human error. It has become much easier to identify safety hazards on-site, leading to increased employee safety. They also provide a great way to gather marketing materials, offering different views of our jobs that the public does not generally see. Overall, technology in the construction business has greatly improved over the past couple of decades. It has propelled all aspects of the industry by offering greater accessibility, accuracy, and communication. To see more of how we utilize these tools, find us on Facebook at RJ Smith Construction or Instagram at rjsmithcompanies. Although it’s still warm outside, RJ Smith Construction is already gearing up for winter- and you should be too! Despite whether you agree with the Farmer’s Almanac prediction of heavy snowfall this winter, there is no better time to start preparing than right now.
1. Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors Since most people spend the winters cooped up in their homes more often, carbon monoxide hazards are larger during this time of the year. Heaters and fireplaces, along with the increase in holiday decorations, create an influx of opportunities for fires. Making sure that your alarms are in proper working condition and equipped with batteries ensure a safer winter season. 2. Clean your chimney and gutters The gap between the end of one winter and the beginning of another is long, leaving a lot to go wrong with your chimney. Having it properly cleaned and inspected will give you peace of mind about potential maintenance before enjoying your evenings by the fireplace. As for your gutters, they are overrun with leaves from fall, meaning they will overflow instead of draining properly. Water can quickly settle around your foundation and porches, along with leaking into basement areas, leading to quick deterioration of your home. 3. Seal cracks around the home Ensure you’re not letting anything “slip through the cracks,” by sealing off space around doors and windows to prevent warm air from going out, and unwanted pests from coming in. Adding weather stripping, caulking, or adding door sweeps are some of the easiest ways to stay comfortable throughout the season. These small fixes are low-cost compared to the amount you could save in your heating costs! 4. RJ Smith specializes in safety on the roads during winter weather Make sure you do the same by completely removing snow and ice from your vehicle and accounting for extra travel time. This makes for the safety of you and others traveling in winter weather. Make sure your tire tread and air pressure isn’t too low when expecting ice and snow on the roadways. While our snow team does their best to make the roads as safe as possible, always make sure to wear your seatbelt to reduce your chance of injury in the event of an accident. Preparing early gives you peace of mind and more time to enjoy the winter wonderland. We’ll see you in the snow! |
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