What is TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate)?
TRIR is the number of OSHA-recordable work injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers over a year. It is calculated as recordable cases multiplied by 200,000, divided by the total hours worked by all employees. Lower is better, and it lets companies of different sizes compare safety performance.
Key facts
- Formula: (recordable cases × 200,000) ÷ total hours worked by all employees.
- 200,000 hours equals 100 full-time employees working 40 hours a week for 50 weeks.
- Hours worked exclude paid non-work time such as vacation, sick leave and holidays.
- TRIR is a lagging indicator: it counts harm that has already happened.
How do you calculate TRIR?
Count the injuries and illnesses recorded on your OSHA 300 log for the period, multiply by 200,000, then divide by the total hours actually worked by all employees in the same period. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives the example of a company with 7 recordable cases and 400,000 hours worked: (7 × 200,000) ÷ 400,000 = 3.5.
Why does the formula use 200,000 hours?
200,000 is the number of hours 100 employees would work at 40 hours a week for 50 weeks. Using it as the base turns the result into cases per 100 full-time workers, so a 50-person plant and a 5,000-person company can be compared on the same scale.
What are the limits of TRIR?
Because it only counts recorded harm, TRIR says little about the risks that have not yet caused an injury. In small workplaces a single case moves the rate sharply; OSHA notes that small establishments can pool several years of cases and hours to get a steadier figure. Many safety teams track leading indicators, such as near misses and unsafe-condition reports, alongside it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lower TRIR always better?
A lower TRIR means fewer recorded injuries and illnesses per 100 workers, but a very low rate can also reflect under-reporting. It is most useful alongside leading indicators and a culture where people report incidents.
What is the difference between TRIR and DART?
TRIR counts all recordable cases. The DART rate uses the same formula but counts only cases involving days away from work, restricted duty or job transfer.
Sources
- How To Compute Your Firm’s Incidence Rate for Safety Management, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (accessed October 28, 2026)
- Clarification on how the formula is used by OSHA to calculate incident rates, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (accessed October 28, 2026)
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