Incident and Injury (I&I) Rate Calculator
What is the I&I Rate?
The Incident and Injury (I&I) rate, often referred to as the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), is a mathematical calculation used by safety professionals and regulatory bodies like OSHA to measure a company's safety performance. It normalizes the number of injuries and illnesses across different company sizes by calculating the number of incidents per 100 full-time employees.
The I&I Rate Formula
The standard formula for calculating the I&I rate is:
(Number of Incidents × 200,000) / Total Hours Worked
The "200,000" factor represents the total hours that 100 employees would work in a year (100 employees × 40 hours/week × 50 weeks/year). This allows for a fair comparison between a small company with 10 employees and a large corporation with 1,000 employees.
Real-World Example
Imagine a manufacturing plant called "Precision Parts Co." with the following data for the year 2023:
- Total Recordable Incidents: 4
- Total Employee Hours Worked: 180,000
Using the formula: (4 × 200,000) / 180,000 = 4.44
This means for every 100 employees working a full year at Precision Parts Co., there were approximately 4.44 recordable incidents. Management can then compare this figure to the industry average to determine if their safety protocols are effective.
Why Monitoring Your I&I Rate Matters
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Benchmarking | Compare your safety performance against industry peers and national averages. |
| Trend Analysis | Identify if your safety record is improving or declining over multiple years. |
| Insurance Costs | Lower I&I rates often lead to reduced workers' compensation insurance premiums. |
| Contractual Requirements | Many prime contractors require subcontractors to maintain an I&I rate below a certain threshold. |
Commonly Asked Questions
What counts as a "Recordable Incident"?
Generally, any work-related injury or illness that results in loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work activity, transfer to another job, or medical treatment beyond first aid.
Is a lower I&I rate always better?
Yes, a lower rate indicates fewer injuries per capita. However, it is also important to ensure that all incidents are being reported accurately and not suppressed to maintain a "low" score.