EHS KPIs Made Simple: TRIR, LTIF, DART, and More

f you’re an EHS manager, supervisor, or consultant, chances are you’ve seen acronyms like TRIR, LTIF, DART, and I&I thrown around in reports, dashboards, and audits. But what do they actually measure—and how should you use them?

This guide breaks down the most commonly used health and safety Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with clear definitions, formulas, and why they matter—aligned with OSHA and ANSI standards.

📊 Core Safety Metrics Explained

1. Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)

What it is: Measures all OSHA-recordable injuries per 100 full-time workers annually.
Formula: Recordable Incidents × 200,000) / Total Hours Worked
Why it matters: Standard OSHA benchmark for comparing across sites and industries.
Source: OSHA 29 CFR 1904
Calculator: TRIR Calculator

2. Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIF)

What it is: Focuses on incidents that result in time off work.
Formula: Lost Time Injuries × 1,000,000) / Total Hours Worked
Why it matters: Reflects severity and organizational impact of injuries.
Source: ANSI/ASSP Z16.1-2022
Calculator: LTIF Calculator

3. Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) Rate

What it is: Measures serious recordable incidents that require days off, restricted duty, or job transfer.
Formula: DART Cases × 200,000) / Total Hours Worked
Why it matters: OSHA-mandated and shows how disruptions affect workforce capacity.
Source: OSHA Form 300A
Calculator: DART Calculator

4. Severity Rate

What it is: Tracks the average number of workdays lost per incident.
Formula: Lost Workdays × 200,000) / Total Hours Worked
Why it matters: Shows the human and operational cost of workplace injuries.
Use: Risk assessment, insurance analysis.
Calculator: Severity Rate Calculator

5. Injuries & Illnesses (I&I) Rate

What it is: Captures total work-related injuries and illnesses, including minor ones.
Formula: Total I&I Cases × 200,000) / Total Hours Worked
Why it matters: Reflects overall workplace health trends.
Source: OSHA 300 log
Calculator: I&I Rate Calculator

🔎 Supplementary & Proactive Indicators

6. Near Miss Frequency Rate

What it is: Measures how often workers report near misses (no injury but high potential).
Formula: Near Misses × 200,000) / Total Hours Worked
Why it matters: Gauges safety culture maturity; promotes prevention mindset.
Calculator:

7. First Aid Case Rate

What it is: Tracks minor injuries requiring first aid only (non-recordable).
Why it matters: Detects frequent low-level hazards before they escalate.

8. Leading Indicators

What they are: Proactive metrics that measure safety program activity and engagement.
Examples:

• Safety observations or inspections

• Training hours per worker

• Percent of corrective actions closed on time

• Toolbox talks delivered

Why they matter: These drive continuous improvement and are emphasized in ANSI/ASSP Z16.1.

🧠 Why EHS KPIs Matter

• Compliance: Ensure OSHA and corporate reporting accuracy.

• Performance: Identify weak areas and track progress.

• Culture: Promote employee involvement and data-driven safety.

• Business Impact: Lower incident rates = reduced downtime, insurance costs, and legal risk.