OSHA Injury and Illness Incidence Rate Calculator
Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR):
Understanding the Injury and Illness Incidence Rate (TRIR)
The Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) is a standard mathematical formula used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to evaluate a company's safety performance. It allows businesses of different sizes to be compared on equal footing by normalizing the data based on a standard population of 100 full-time employees.
How the Calculation Works
The formula uses a base of 200,000 hours. This number represents the total hours that 100 employees would work in a year (100 employees × 40 hours per week × 50 weeks per year). By using this multiplier, the resulting rate tells you how many recordable incidents occurred for every 100 workers.
(Number of Injuries and Illnesses × 200,000) ÷ Total Employee Hours Worked = Incidence Rate
Example Calculation
Imagine a manufacturing plant that had 4 recordable injuries last year. The total hours worked by all staff (including overtime) was 160,000 hours.
- Step 1: 4 (cases) × 200,000 = 800,000
- Step 2: 800,000 ÷ 160,000 (hours) = 5.0
- Result: The plant's TRIR is 5.0.
Why Track This Metric?
Monitoring your incidence rate is crucial for several reasons:
- Benchmarking: Compare your safety performance against industry averages published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Identifying Trends: If your rate increases year-over-year, it may indicate a breakdown in safety protocols.
- Insurance & Contracts: Many clients and insurance providers use TRIR as a qualifying factor for awarding contracts or determining premiums.
- OSHA Compliance: High incidence rates can trigger OSHA inspections or placement in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
What Qualifies as a "Recordable Case"?
According to OSHA, a recordable injury or illness includes any work-related fatality, any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work, or transfer to another job, or any work-related injury or illness requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.