TL;DR
- For businesses, protecting the supply chain means investing in a robust Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) strategy.
- TRIR is a value developed by OSHA that gives an indication of a company’s safety performance over the previous year.
- TRIR is an important metric for organizations, potential employees, suppliers, insurers, and OSHA.
- Some effective strategies to bring down TRIR include:
- Investment in training programs
- Ergonomic workplace design
- Use of PPE and safety equipment
- A better process of incident reporting
- Regular RCAs
- Use of remote triage services
- The key benefits of inculcating a culture of workplace safety include:
- Reduced workplace injuries
- Improved employee engagement
- Lower costs and liabilities
- Stronger regulatory compliance
Workplace Safety: Using a Better EHS Strategy
Workplaces in the 21st century have a lot on their shoulders. Each functions as a cohesive system made up of smaller components, all engineered for success and long-term efficiency. However, if even one segment is ignored, the entire operation may be jeopardized.
In any sophisticated operation, protecting the supply chain requires an equally strong Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) strategy. Every successful EHS approach relies on the right metrics and on understanding how to use those metrics to plan for measurable, lasting success.
TRIR, or the Total Recordable Incident Rate, is one such metric, developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A lower TRIR means fewer work-related injuries and illnesses within your team.
In this article, we’ll outline key TRIR reduction strategies to help you benchmark safety measures and identify areas for improvement.
What is TRIR?
The TRIR value gives an indication, positive or negative, of a company’s safety performance over the previous year. TRIR may also be used to compare the safety performance of organizations within unique industries.
OSHA requires all organizations with more than 10 employees (with the exception of certain low-risk industries) to maintain a formal record of work-related injuries or illnesses. This is essential for TRIR calculation and includes the following:
- A fatality
- Incidents that necessitate care beyond first aid
- Incidents that cause a loss of consciousness, time away from work, or a transfer
- Diagnosed cases of illnesses, such as cancer, cracked bones or teeth, punctured eardrums, and other chronic, irreversible conditions
Why is TRIR Important?
TRIR is an important metric for various stakeholders. Here’s why it’s an essential consideration:
- For You: TRIR can give you insight into your performance. Your internal EHS department can use this data to strategize operational changes and note improvements.
- For OSHA: A poor TRIR score could translate into an increase in surprise OSHA inspections. OSHA could enhance its oversight of your internal EHS operations.
- For Prospective Employees & Suppliers: Potential employees, suppliers, and partners may investigate your company’s TRIR to evaluate suitability. A concerning score could signal a lack of employee safety measures and act as a barrier to talent sourcing, business opportunities, and supplier sources.
- For Insurers: Insurers may use TRIR data to set insurance premiums for your company. The higher your TRIR, the more you could be required to pay for insurance.
How To Calculate TRIR
The formula to calculate TRIR is as follows:
TRIR = Number of Incidents x 200,000 / total number of hours worked in a year.
The benchmark of 200,000 hours established by OSHA represents the total number of hours that 100 employees would work over 50 weeks, assuming a 40-hour work week. You shouldn’t include vacation hours and leaves in your “hours worked”. You must also include the hours worked by temporary staff.
Effective TRIR Reduction Strategies
Safety culture begins at the top and requires some consideration of the big picture. As you set out to improve safety metrics, you must ask questions like:
- Are employees motivated to report incidents and near-misses?
- Is higher management equipped to handle safety gaps?
- Who is responsible for “safety”? Is it one team’s job or is it a collective effort?
Here are the best TRIR reduction strategies:
1. Invest in Safety Training Programs
Regular, hands-on training can reduce the human errors that snowball into a high TRIR. Most recordable incidents at workplaces are a result of a lack of clear and updated training. Scenario-based training and routine refresher courses can ensure employees are aware of basic safety protocols. At WorkPartners USA, we usually recommend our partners employ digital learning tools to make these sessions more engaging. We offer modONE™ to our employees, a safety engagement system that measures employee engagement and compliance adherence.
2. Incorporate Ergonomics in Workplace Design
Poor ergonomic setups manifest in chronic conditions and serious musculoskeletal injuries, which can quickly drive up TRIR. Try re-designing old workspaces, identify areas that could benefit from automation, rotate repetitive tasks that could cause strain, and then invest in effective safety strategies. Ergonomic improvements can also drastically boost productivity.
3. Utilize PPE and Safety Technology
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be available at your workplace, but is it being maintained and used consistently? Strive to foster a setting where every employee uses the right PPE at the right moment. Beyond PPE, you can also consider 21st-century innovations to declare your commitment to employee safety. An example: AI-powered monitoring that detects risks immediately and drastically improves response times. Conduct regular audits of PPE on hand and replace any worn-out components. Investing in these systems strengthens your failsafes.
4. Refine Incident Reporting and Tracking
Endeavor to record incidents with the precision that OSHA would expect from a well-managed company. Digital reporting platforms provide real-time data, trend analysis, and actionable insights to prevent repeat incidents. modONE maintains digital records of safety training and incident reporting. Transparent tracking also builds employee trust in safety systems. Accidents can transpire despite your best efforts, but it’s how you respond to them and plan ahead that reflects positively. Open-ended or anonymous reporting channels encourage employees to report without fear of blame.
5. Conduct Root Cause Analyses
Every incident, no matter how small, should be accompanied by a thorough root cause analysis (RCA) that determines its underlying cause and assigns responsibility for prevention in the future. Use organizers like the ‘5 Whys’ and the ‘Fishbone Diagram’ to go beyond the surface level. By laying down formal processes, you increase accountability and transparency.
6. Use Medical Triage Services
Always have a plan in place for smooth resolution and timely action. At WorkPartners USA, we provide our partners with doctor-led triage services. Our licensed MDs evaluate injured workers in remote workplaces and deliver the appropriate medical phone triage. Unlike many workplace safety services, our physicians can prescribe medication and determine whether an employee truly needs emergency room care. This immediate intervention ensures employees receive faster treatment and take fewer days off, while helping you keep the total recordable incident rate low.
The Advantages of Building a Culture of Safety
A strong culture of safety can mean measurable advantages for both employees and organizations. The following benefits demonstrate why investing in safety culture is one of the most effective strategies for improving workplace performance:
1.Reduced Workplace Incidents
This is the most immediate benefit of investing in a formal and refined EHS strategy. By modifying the workplace, encouraging employee accountability, and investing in the right equipment, you can dramatically bring down the likelihood of injury. This improves TRIR and lowers lost-time injuries, which enhances both compliance and employee well-being.
2. Improved Engagement and Morale
When workers can see tangible proof of your commitment to workplace safety, they feel supported and place their trust in management. Improved job satisfaction means employees are more likely to take responsibility for safe work practices, report incidents, and cooperate to create conducive environments.
3. Lower Costs and Liability Risks
Every single workplace accident carries a financial responsibility. This includes medical expenses, workers’ compensation claims, insurance premiums, and even potential legal costs. A strong safety culture focuses on prevention and saves organizations these associated costs. Organizations can avoid indirect costs like the cost of re-training, broken equipment, and damaged reputation.
4. Stronger Compliance
When organizations invest in a robust safety culture, they naturally align with OSHA, ISO 45001, and other industry-specific requirements. Instead of scrambling to deal with violations and surprise inspections brought on by a high TRIR, compliance is a seamless process within daily operations.
Also Read: Comparing DART Rate and TRIR Rate: A Guide to Calculating DART Rate
Measure Your Safety Performance
As you move forward, prioritizing employee safety is essential. A well-structured EHS plan not only includes TRIR reduction strategies and stronger OSHA compliance but also ensures long-term business continuity.
Partnering with the right experts can elevate your workplace safety performance and keep your organization agile for the future. At WorkPartners USA, we understand the challenges businesses face to stay both safe and competitive. We’ve helped partners across major industries take control of their OSHA recordables and transform workplace safety through injury intervention, proactive prevention services, and medical case management.
Our approach has consistently delivered results: clients have achieved a 40% to 60% reduction in OSHA recordables within the first year alone.
Discover the difference our team can make. If building a safe, compliant workplace ever feels complex, WorkPartners USA is here to untangle the process and guide you every step of the way.
Provider Injury Line: (800) 359-5020
New Customer Inquiries: (651) 323-8654
Location: 2038 Ford Parkway #464 St Paul, MN 55116
FAQs
Q1. What is an ideal TRIR score?
Ans. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average Total Recordable Cases (TRC) rate in 2023 was 2.4 per 100 full-time workers, though this figure varies across industries. As a rule of thumb, an ideal TRIR score is at or below your industry’s average.
Q2. How is TRIR different from DART rate?
Ans. TRIR measures all recordable workplace injuries and illnesses, while DART focuses only on cases that lead to days away, restricted duty, or transfers, making them complementary but distinct safety metrics.
Q3. What industries have the highest TRIR?
Ans. Industries like construction, manufacturing, and healthcare often see higher TRIRs due to the physical demands and risks involved, though rates can vary based on safety practices.
Q4. How often should TRIR be calculated?
Ans. Organizations typically calculate TRIR annually, but reviewing it quarterly or even monthly can provide more timely insights into safety performance and areas requiring improvement.
