Learn what TRIR means, the exact formula for calculating Total Recordable Incident Rate, worked examples, what a good TRIR score looks like, and how JHA documentation helps you reduce it.
TRIR, or Total Recordable Incident Rate, is the most widely used safety performance metric in occupational health and safety. It measures how many OSHA-recordable injuries and illnesses occurred per 100 full-time employees over a given period — typically one calendar year.
TRIR is used by clients, insurance companies, government agencies, and safety-conscious employers to evaluate a company's safety performance. A low TRIR demonstrates strong safety management. A high TRIR raises red flags in pre qualification, tender evaluation, and insurance underwriting.
The TRIR formula is standardised by OSHA and is used consistently across all industries:
The 200,000 figure represents the equivalent of 100 employees working 40 hours per week for 50 weeks per year (100 × 40 × 50 = 200,000). This normalises the rate so that companies of different sizes can be meaningfully compared.
Let's calculate TRIR for a construction company with the following data for the year:
This company's TRIR is 3.17. Whether that is acceptable depends on the industry benchmark. For construction, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) average is approximately 2.5–3.5, so this company is at the industry median good, but with room for improvement.
There is no single 'good' TRIR it depends on your industry. Below are approximate BLS average TRIR figures by sector (based on recent OSHA/BLS data):
|
Industry |
Average TRIR |
Best-in-Class Target |
|
Construction |
2.5 –
3.5 |
< 1.5 |
|
Oil & Gas Extraction |
1.2 –
1.8 |
< 0.8 |
|
Manufacturing |
3.0 –
4.0 |
< 1.5 |
|
Utilities |
1.5 –
2.5 |
< 1.0 |
|
Warehousing & Transport |
4.0 –
5.0 |
< 2.0 |
|
All Private Industry (avg) |
2.7 |
< 1.5 |
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