TRIR Calculator: Total Recordable Incident Rate & DART Rate
Calculate OSHA safety metrics including TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) and DART (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred) rates to track safety performance, meet compliance requirements, and benchmark against industry standards.
TRIR & DART Rate Calculator
Use this free OSHA TRIR calculator to determine your Total Recordable Incident Rate and DART rate. Enter your company's employee count, total hours worked, and incident data to calculate these standardized safety metrics and compare your performance against industry benchmarks.
What is TRIR?
TRIR stands for Total Recordable Incident Rate. It measures the number of OSHA recordable incidents per 100 full-time employees over a specified time period. This safety metric helps organizations track their safety performance and compare it to industry standards.
Total number of employees in the organization or project
Total hours worked by all employees during the period
Number of OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses
Number of incidents resulting in days away, restricted work, or job transfer
Results
* Rates are based on 100 full-time employees working 40 hours/week, 50 weeks/year (200,000 hours).
Compare your rates to industry averages or historical data to assess performance.
Understanding TRIR and Safety Performance Metrics
What Are TRIR and DART Rates in Safety?
Safety professionals use standardized metrics to evaluate workplace safety performance, track trends over time, and compare against industry benchmarks. The most commonly used metrics are the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) and the Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rate.
What does TRIR stand for?
TRIR stands for Total Recordable Incident Rate. It represents the number of OSHA recordable incidents per 100 full-time employees during a one-year period.
What does DART stand for?
DART stands for Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred. This rate focuses specifically on more severe injuries and illnesses that affect an employee's ability to perform their regular job duties.
How to Calculate TRIR: The TRIR Formula
TRIR Formula:
(Number of OSHA Recordable Incidents × 200,000) ÷ Total Hours Worked
DART Rate Formula:
(Number of DART Cases × 200,000) ÷ Total Hours Worked
Note: The factor 200,000 represents 100 employees working 40 hours per week for 50 weeks per year, allowing for standardized comparison regardless of company size.
Example TRIR Calculation:
A company with 500 employees had 5 recordable incidents in a year. The total hours worked was 1,000,000.
TRIR = (5 × 200,000) ÷ 1,000,000 = 1.0
This means there were 1.0 recordable incidents per 100 full-time employees during the year.
What Counts as an OSHA Recordable Incident?
Per OSHA guidelines, recordable incidents include work-related:
- Deaths
- Injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work
- Restricted work activity or job transfer
- Medical treatment beyond first aid
- Loss of consciousness
- Significant injuries or illnesses diagnosed by a healthcare professional
- Any work-related case involving cancer, chronic irreversible disease, a fractured/cracked bone, or a punctured eardrum
Note: Not all workplace injuries are OSHA recordable. First aid cases, near misses, and property damage incidents without injury are typically not included in TRIR calculations.
What Qualifies as a DART Case?
DART cases are a subset of recordable incidents that specifically involve:
- Days Away from work (cases where the employee misses work)
- Restricted work activity (cases where the employee is at work but restricted from performing routine functions)
- Transferred to another job due to the work-related injury or illness
What is a Good TRIR Rate? How to Interpret Your Safety Metrics
TRIR Interpretation:
- Below 1.0: Excellent safety performance in most industries
- 1.0 - 3.0: Average to good performance depending on industry
- 3.0 - 5.0: Below average performance in most industries
- Above 5.0: Poor performance requiring immediate attention
DART Rate Interpretation:
- Below 0.5: Excellent performance
- 0.5 - 1.5: Average to good performance
- Above 1.5: Below average, indicating higher rates of serious incidents
Note: Industry benchmarks vary. Always compare your metrics against your specific industry average for the most meaningful analysis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes industry-specific TRIR and DART rates annually.
6 Benefits of Tracking Safety Performance Metrics
- Performance Evaluation: Objectively measure the effectiveness of your safety programs and initiatives.
- Trend Analysis: Identify patterns and trends in workplace incidents to target improvements.
- Benchmarking: Compare your safety performance against industry averages and competitors.
- Regulatory Compliance: Meet OSHA recordkeeping requirements and demonstrate due diligence.
- Resource Allocation: Make data-driven decisions about where to invest safety resources.
- Communication: Effectively communicate safety performance to leadership, employees, and stakeholders.
7 Strategies to Improve Your Safety Metrics
- Leading Indicators: Focus on preventive metrics like safety observations, near-miss reporting, and training completion.
- Safety Culture: Develop a positive safety culture where employees actively participate in safety initiatives.
- Incident Investigation: Thoroughly investigate all incidents to identify and address root causes.
- Safety Training: Provide comprehensive safety training tailored to specific job roles and hazards.
- Hazard Assessments: Regularly conduct job hazard analyses to identify and control workplace risks.
- Safety Committees: Establish cross-functional safety committees to drive improvements.
- Management Commitment: Ensure visible leadership commitment to safety at all levels of the organization.
Important Safety Metric Considerations
- Beyond the Numbers: While TRIR and DART are valuable metrics, they are lagging indicators that measure past performance. A comprehensive safety program should also include leading indicators that help prevent incidents.
- Accuracy Matters: Ensure all recordable incidents are properly classified and recorded to maintain the integrity of your safety metrics.
- Small Sample Sizes: For small organizations, a single incident can significantly impact rates. Consider using multi-year averages for more stable metrics.
- Industry Context: Different industries have different risk profiles. Always compare your metrics to relevant industry benchmarks.
OSHA TRIR Recordkeeping Requirements
Organizations with more than 10 employees in most industries must maintain OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 forms to track workplace injuries and illnesses. The OSHA 300A Summary must be posted in a visible location from February 1 to April 30 each year. Additionally, certain employers must electronically submit Form 300A data to OSHA annually through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA).
OSHA 300 Log
Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses - Records all recordable incidents throughout the year
OSHA 300A Summary
Annual summary of all recordable incidents that must be posted in the workplace
OSHA 301 Form
Injury and Illness Incident Report - Detailed information about each recordable incident
TRIR Meaning and Importance in Workplace Safety
Understanding the meaning of TRIR in safety is crucial for effective safety management. TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) is more than just a number—it's a key indicator of your organization's safety performance and culture.
Why TRIR Matters in Safety Management
TRIR is widely used by safety professionals, executives, insurance companies, and regulatory agencies to:
- Evaluate Safety Programs: Measure the effectiveness of existing safety initiatives and identify areas for improvement
- Compare Performance: Benchmark against industry standards and competitors
- Track Progress: Monitor safety performance trends over time
- Demonstrate Compliance: Show commitment to regulatory requirements and safety standards
- Reduce Costs: Lower workers' compensation premiums and avoid OSHA penalties
TRIR vs. Other Safety Metrics
While TRIR is valuable, it should be used alongside other metrics for a comprehensive safety assessment:
- DART Rate: Focuses on more severe incidents resulting in days away, restricted work, or job transfer
- LTIR (Lost Time Incident Rate): Measures incidents resulting in lost workdays
- Severity Rate: Accounts for the number of lost workdays, not just the number of incidents
- Near Miss Rate: Tracks potential incidents that could have caused harm
- Safety Observation Rate: Measures proactive safety behaviors and hazard identification
TRIR Limitations and Considerations
While TRIR is a valuable metric, it has some limitations to be aware of:
- Lagging Indicator: TRIR measures past performance rather than predicting future incidents
- Potential for Underreporting: Organizations may inadvertently discourage reporting to maintain low rates
- Size Sensitivity: Small organizations may see significant rate fluctuations from a single incident
- Limited Context: TRIR doesn't account for incident severity or root causes
For a comprehensive safety program, combine TRIR tracking with leading indicators such as safety training completion, hazard identification, and near-miss reporting.
OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements
Organizations with more than 10 employees in most industries must maintain OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 forms to track workplace injuries and illnesses. The OSHA 300A Summary must be posted in a visible location from February 1 to April 30 each year. Additionally, certain employers must electronically submit Form 300A data to OSHA annually through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA).
OSHA 300 Log
Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses - Records all recordable incidents throughout the year
OSHA 300A Summary
Annual summary of all recordable incidents that must be posted in the workplace
OSHA 301 Form
Injury and Illness Incident Report - Detailed information about each recordable incident
Common TRIR Calculation Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect Classification: Misclassifying first aid cases as recordable incidents or vice versa
- Inaccurate Hours: Using estimated rather than actual hours worked
- Excluding Contractors: Failing to include temporary or contract workers when required
- Calculation Errors: Making mathematical errors when applying the TRIR formula
- Inconsistent Time Periods: Comparing rates from different time periods without normalization
OSHA Electronic Reporting Requirements
Establishments with 250+ employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees in certain high-risk industries, must electronically submit their 300A data to OSHA annually by March 2. Failure to submit can result in citations and penalties.