Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) is a measure of workplace safety. It quantifies the number of lost-time incidents occurring within a specific timeframe relative to the total number of hours worked. A lost-time incident refers to an occupational injury or illness that results in an employee being unable to perform their regular job duties for at least one day. The resulting value offers a standardized way to compare safety performance across different organizations or within the same organization over different periods. The formula generally involves dividing the number of lost-time incidents by the total hours worked and then multiplying by a constant, often 200,000 (representing the equivalent of 100 employees working 2,000 hours per year).
Calculating this rate is crucial for several reasons. It allows organizations to benchmark their safety performance against industry averages and identify areas where improvements are needed. It provides a quantifiable metric that can be used to track the effectiveness of safety programs and initiatives. A declining rate suggests that safety efforts are successful, while an increasing rate may indicate a need to re-evaluate safety protocols and training. Historically, this metric has been used to understand the impact of safety interventions and prioritize resource allocation for risk reduction.
