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OROSHARecord
Standards & Metrics

Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)

A standardized metric that measures the number of recordable workplace injuries and illnesses per 200,000 hours worked (equivalent to 100 full-time workers per year).

Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) is a term from U.S. workplace-safety regulation — typically a category in OSHA enforcement, a citation classification, or a worker-protection concept under the OSH Act. The definition here is the practical worker-facing meaning. Understanding Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) is part of reading OSHA enforcement records defensibly. Citation classifications (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious, de minimis) carry meaningfully different implications for both employers and workers, and the worker-relevant interpretation often differs from the strict legal definition.

Each company page on OSHARecord surfaces Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)-relevant data for that specific employer, so the general definition here translates into concrete enforcement-history detail on the per-employer pages workers actually use.

What It Means

The Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), also known as the Total Recordable Case Rate, is calculated by multiplying the number of recordable incidents by 200,000 and dividing by the total hours worked by all employees during the period. The 200,000 figure represents the approximate number of hours 100 full-time employees work in a year (50 weeks x 40 hours x 100 workers). TRIR is one of the most widely used benchmarks for comparing workplace safety performance across companies, industries, and time periods. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes average TRIR data by industry through its Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), allowing employers to benchmark their performance against industry averages. Insurance companies, contractors, and safety-conscious clients frequently use TRIR to evaluate an employer's safety record during prequalification processes. A lower TRIR indicates better safety performance. Industries with the highest average TRIRs include nursing and residential care facilities, agriculture, and certain manufacturing sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Total Recordable Incident Rate" mean in OSHA context?

A standardized metric that measures the number of recordable workplace injuries and illnesses per 200,000 hours worked (equivalent to 100 full-time workers per year).

Why does Total Recordable Incident Rate matter for workplace safety?

The Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), also known as the Total Recordable Case Rate, is calculated by multiplying the number of recordable incidents by 200,000 and dividing by the total hours worked by all employees during the period. The 200,000 figure represents the approximate number of hours...

Related Terms

DART Rate (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred)
A metric measuring the rate of injuries and illnesses severe enough to result in days away from work, restricted duties, or job transfer per 200,000 hours worked.
Recordable Injury
A work-related injury or illness that meets OSHA criteria for recording on the employer's injury and illness log.
OSHA 300 Log
The official Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses that most employers are required to maintain and make available to OSHA inspectors.

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About This Data

Definitions based on OSHA standards, the OSH Act of 1970, and federal enforcement guidance. Penalty amounts reflect 2026 inflation-adjusted maximums. See our methodology.