Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)

Total recordable incident rate (TRIR) is a safety metric that shows how many OSHA-recordable work injuries and illnesses happen for every 100 full-time employees in a year. It turns the injury log into a rate you can track and compare.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives the incidence rate formula as the number of injuries and illnesses times 200,000, divided by employee hours worked.

How Do You Calculate TRIR?

Count every recordable case for the year from your OSHA 300 Log. Multiply that number by 200,000, then divide by the total hours all employees worked.

The 200,000 base equals 100 employees working 40 hours a week for 50 weeks. That is why the result is a rate per 100 full-time workers.

BLS gives a simple example: 7 recordable cases and 400,000 hours worked produce a rate of 3.5.

What Counts as a Recordable Incident?

Recordable cases follow OSHA's recording rules. They include deaths, cases with days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of consciousness, and certain significant diagnosed injuries.

First aid alone usually does not count, and neither does observation or counseling. The details sit in the OSHA recordkeeping rules, so decisions on gray cases should follow those rules.

Use the same rules every year. Changing how cases are counted makes year-to-year comparisons meaningless.

What Does TRIR Tell You, and What Does It Miss?

TRIR gives a quick read on overall injury frequency. A falling rate suggests fewer recordable injuries for the hours worked, and a rising rate is a warning to look closer.

It does not show severity. One fatality and one minor recordable case each count once, so a low rate can hide a serious event.

It also lags. TRIR counts injuries after they happen, so pair it with leading measures such as near-miss reports and training completion. A frontline metrics article lists TRIR alongside near-miss frequency for that reason.

How Is TRIR Different From DART and Lost Time Rates?

All three use the same 200,000 formula. They differ only in which cases go into the count, as BLS explains.

How Should Employers Use TRIR?

• Track it monthly or quarterly, not just once a year.
• Compare against your industry average, not against all employers.
• Break it out by site, department, or job to find hot spots.
• Pair it with leading indicators like near-miss reports.
• Never use it to punish reporting. Pressure to keep the number low leads to underreporting.

The OSHA compliance entry explains the broader recordkeeping duties that feed this number.

Why Do Accurate Hours Matter?

The formula depends on total hours worked, so weak time records distort the rate. Missing hours make TRIR look higher than it is, and padded hours make it look lower.

Count hours for all employees, including part-time and seasonal staff. Exclude paid time off that is not time actually worked.

Use one consistent source for hours, such as payroll or timekeeping, and document how you counted.

What Mistakes Distort TRIR?

Underreporting is the biggest. If supervisors feel pressure to keep the rate low, injuries go unrecorded, and the number stops reflecting reality.

Inconsistent hours data is another. Mixing salaried estimates with actual hours, or leaving out part-time staff, changes the result and makes trends unreliable.

A third is comparing to the wrong group. A construction employer and an office employer should not benchmark against each other, so use your own industry as the comparison.

How Does HR Cloud Fit Into TRIR?

HR Cloud does not calculate TRIR or keep an OSHA log. Its time tracking software lets employees enter time on the web or a mobile device and offers reports on past time entries, which can supply the hours-worked figure.

Calculate the rate from your OSHA 300 Log and those hours in a spreadsheet or safety system.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is TRIR?

A: TRIR is the total recordable incident rate, the number of OSHA-recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers.

Q: What is the TRIR formula?

A: Recordable cases times 200,000, divided by total hours worked by all employees.

Q: Why is 200,000 used in the formula?

A: It equals 100 employees working 40 hours a week for 50 weeks, so the rate is per 100 full-time workers.

Q: What is a good TRIR?

A: It depends on the industry. Compare your rate with your industry average and track your own trend over time.

Q: Is TRIR the same as DART?

A: No. TRIR counts all recordable cases. DART counts only cases with days away, restriction, or job transfer.

Q: Does a low TRIR mean a workplace is safe?

A: Not always. It ignores severity and counts only injuries that already happened, so use it with leading indicators.