EMOD + Audit Readiness: How Safety Programs & Payroll Records Reduce Workers’ Comp Costs
eBacon
47:38
Your Experience Modification Rate (EMOD/EMR) directly affects what you pay for workers’ comp, and even one incident or documentation slip can inflate your premiums for years. The good news is that when safety practices, training records, and payroll documentation all line up, contractors can actively improve their EMOD trajectory over the next 12–24 months.
Join us for a partner panel with experts from Brown & Brown, KPA, and eBacon as we break down exactly how EMOD is calculated, the claim and reporting issues that drive it up, and the proven actions construction teams can take this year to strengthen their documentation, defend claims, and reduce long-term workers’ comp costs.
What we’ll cover:
- What EMOD/EMR actually is (in simple terms) and how it influences your workers’ comp premiums.
- What drives EMOD increases — including the most common claims, incidents, and reporting mistakes.
- How safety programs, training, and digital recordkeeping directly affect the “actual losses” part of the formula.
- How payroll accuracy, time tracking, and audit-ready documentation help prevent errors, defend claims, and reduce long-term risk
- Practical steps contractors can take right now to set themselves up for a better EMOD at renewal.
- Expert answers from Brown & Brown, KPA Safety, and eBacon on where to start if this all feels overwhelming.
Who should attend:
Construction owners, payroll and accounting managers, safety managers, HR teams, and anyone responsible for insurance, risk management, or workers’ comp costs.
Why this matters:
Your EMOD is one of the few cost drivers you can actually influence, and the right combination of safety practices + payroll documentation + audit readiness can lead to fewer claims, stronger defenses, and lower long-term comp premiums.
Speakers
Shawna Coronado
Host
Shawna Coronado is eBacon’s Digital Content Strategist and the regular host of its webinar series. She helps payroll managers and workforce management teams make sense of complex construction compliance topics, turning regulations into clear, actionable guidance.
Taylor Thorn
Senior Director of Construction Solutions @ KPA
Taylor Thorn is an experienced construction technologist focused on safety and mobile applications. Taylor was co-founder and CEO of AnchoRock, a construction safety software solution, which was acquired by KPA in 2023. Taylor now serves as the Sr. Product Director at KPA, with a focus on construction technology. He has an in-depth understanding of the construction industry, with hands-on experience managing and building safety solutions for general, electrical, mechanical, steel, roofing, and solar contractors. Taylor is passionate about safety in construction, assisting contractors in digitizing their safety and compliance programs through user-friendly tools.
Karina Lugo
Director of Workers Compensation @ eBacon
Karina Lugo is eBacon’s Director of Workers’ Compensation, specializing in payroll reporting, workers’ compensation audits, and experience modification rate (EMR) accuracy. She works closely with insurance carriers, auditors, and brokers to ensure payroll data and class codes are correct, helping clients avoid overpaying on premiums or being unfairly penalized in their EMR. While safety programs reduce injuries and brokers place coverage, Karina ensures the data behind the EMR is accurate, defensible, and aligned with each client’s operations.
Wayne Hubbard
Senior Vice-President @ Brown & Brown Insurance
Wayne Hubbard is Senior Vice President at Brown & Brown, with extensive experience supporting customers on EMR performance and total cost of risk. For more than 21 years, Wayne has worked alongside insurance carriers and internal teams to evaluate claims trends, underwriting considerations, and program structure. His work is centered on helping customers improve risk clarity and make informed decisions that support long‑term stability and program effectiveness.
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