OSHA Recordable Injury Rate Calculator (TRIR)
Use this calculator to determine your Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR). This metric is the standard used by OSHA to track safety performance and allows you to compare your safety record against industry averages.
How to Calculate OSHA Recordable Injury Rate
The OSHA Recordable Incident Rate, commonly known as the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), is a mathematical calculation used to gauge the safety performance of a company. It standardizes safety data, allowing businesses of various sizes to compare their safety records against industry peers.
The TRIR Formula
To calculate your injury rate manually, use the following standard OSHA equation:
Understanding the Variables
- Number of OSHA Recordable Injuries: This is the count of work-related injuries and illnesses that you have recorded on your OSHA 300 Log. It includes fatalities, days away from work, restricted work activity, transfers, and medical treatment beyond first aid.
- Total Hours Worked: This is the sum of hours worked by all employees during the calendar year. It should include overtime and hours worked by temporary staff under your supervision, but exclude vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
- The 200,000 Constant: This number represents the equivalent of 100 full-time employees working 40 hours a week for 50 weeks per year (100 employees × 40 hours × 50 weeks = 200,000 hours). Using this multiplier standardizes the rate to "injuries per 100 full-time employees."
Example Calculation
Imagine a manufacturing company with the following data for the year 2023:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Recordable Injuries | 5 |
| Total Employee Hours Worked | 450,000 |
Step 1: Multiply injuries by 200,000.
5 × 200,000 = 1,000,000
Step 2: Divide by total hours worked.
1,000,000 ÷ 450,000 = 2.22
The TRIR for this company is 2.22. This means for every 100 full-time employees, approximately 2.2 workers suffered a recordable injury that year.
What qualifies as a Recordable Incident?
Not every bump or scrape belongs in this calculation. According to OSHA standards (29 CFR 1904), an injury or illness is recordable if it results in:
- Death
- Days away from work
- Restricted work or transfer to another job
- Medical treatment beyond first aid
- Loss of consciousness
- Significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional
First Aid cases are NOT recordable. Examples of first aid include using bandages, cleaning flushing wounds, using hot/cold therapy, or using non-prescription medication at non-prescription strength.
Why is TRIR Important?
While TRIR is a lagging indicator (measuring past performance), it remains critical for several reasons:
- OSHA Compliance: High rates can trigger OSHA inspections.
- Insurance Premiums: Workers' compensation insurers often use this data to determine premiums (along with EMR).
- Bidding Eligibility: Many general contractors and clients require a TRIR below a certain threshold (often 1.0 or the industry average) to bid on projects.
Industry Averages
A "good" rate depends entirely on your industry. Construction and manufacturing typically have higher rates than finance or retail. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes annual tables of incidence rates by NAICS code. To benchmark your performance, find your specific NAICS code on the BLS website and compare your calculated TRIR to the industry average.