Lost-Time Injury

What is a lost-time injury?

A lost-time injury (LTI) is a work-related injury or illness that prevents an employee from returning to their normal duties for a period of time after the incident. Organizations use LTIs to measure the impact of workplace incidents and monitor safety performance.

The exact definition may vary between organizations, industries, and reporting authorities.

What are examples of lost-time injuries?

Examples may include:
  • A fracture requiring time away from work
  • A back injury preventing normal duties
  • A serious cut requiring recovery time
  • A workplace illness requiring medical leave
  • A psychological injury resulting in time away
  • A fall causing an employee to miss a scheduled shift
Not every workplace injury becomes an LTI. Minor injuries that only require first aid and do not result in missed work are generally recorded separately.

What information should an LTI report include?

A lost-time injury report may record:
  • The date, time, and location
  • Details of the employee and task
  • A description of the incident
  • The injury or illness sustained
  • Medical treatment provided
  • The number of workdays or shifts missed
  • Investigation findings
  • Contributing factors and root causes
  • Corrective actions
  • Return-to-work information
Accurate records help organizations investigate the incident and monitor its impact.

Why is LTI tracking important?

Tracking lost-time injuries can help organizations identify serious or recurring safety issues. LTI data may reveal patterns involving particular tasks, hazards, locations, or groups of workers.

Organizations can use these insights to improve controls, target safety training, and reduce the likelihood of similar injuries.

How is lost-time injury frequency rate calculated?

The lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) measures the number of LTIs relative to the hours worked during a set period.

A common formula is:

LTIFR = Number of LTIs / Total hours worked x Standard calculation factor

The calculation factor varies between countries, industries, and organizations, so the selected method should be clearly documented and applied consistently.

What is the difference between an LTI and a recordable incident?

An LTI results in time away from normal work. A recordable incident is a broader category that may include medical treatment, restricted duties, loss of consciousness, or other outcomes that meet applicable reporting criteria.

How does incident reporting software help track LTIs?

Incident reporting software can record injuries, missed workdays, medical information, investigations, and corrective actions in one system. It can also generate reports and dashboards to monitor LTI trends across locations, departments, and time periods.

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