What does “TRIR (total recordable incident rate)” mean?
Short answer
TRIR (total recordable incident rate) counts recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers a year. OSHA calls it the total case rate.
Also known as: TRIR, total case rate, TCR, recordable incident rate
The formula
OSHA's formula is (number of injuries and illnesses × 200,000) ÷ employee hours worked. Its Total Case Rate counts all cases on the Form 300 or 300A: the days-away, job-transfer-or-restriction and other-recordable columns. The log marks deaths separately, so say how your report counts them.
Example: 9 recordable cases and 600,000 hours worked. 9 × 200,000 = 1,800,000. Divide by 600,000 to get 3.0 cases per 100 full-time workers.
BLS says the 200,000 is 40 hours a week for 50 weeks, for 100 full-time employees.
Uses and limits
TRIR lets you compare your site with the BLS rate for your industry and track change over time. It counts only recordable cases, so first aid cases and near misses are outside it.
Limits: a rate counts a sprain and an amputation as one case each. With few hours worked, one case swings the number. Pair TRIR with the DART rate and with measures of severity and near misses, such as PSIF events.
Mix-up: TRIR is a rate per 100 full-time workers, not a count. Always show the hours behind it.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate TRIR?
Multiply recordable cases by 200,000. Divide by total hours worked by all employees. The result is cases per 100 full-time workers. Example: 9 cases over 600,000 hours is 3.0.
Does TRIR include first aid cases?
No. Only cases that meet OSHA's recording criteria count. A first-aid-only case stays out unless another criterion applies, like days away.
Is TRIR the same as OSHA's total case rate?
In practice, yes. OSHA's Total Case Rate uses the same formula and the same three columns. Calculators may treat deaths differently, so write down your method.
Sources
- OSHA: Establishment-specific injury and illness data (rate definitions)
- BLS Handbook of Methods: Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, calculation
- OSHA 29 CFR 1904.7: General recording criteria
Reviewed against the sources above on Oct 5, 2026. Rules change: confirm current requirements with the issuing body or your counsel before relying on any summary.
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