Top 10 Safety Metrics You Need to Start Tracking

Prioritizing the safety and well-being of your workforce is essential for any sustainable business. At Aware360, we believe that making smarter safety decisions starts with solid data. That's why we focus on the importance of safety metrics—these are specific, measurable indicators that give you a real picture of how your organization is performing in terms of health and safety.

These metrics are tools for understanding and improving workplace safety. Collecting, reporting, and communicating these metrics, combined with a strong safety culture focused on continuous improvement, can lead to more informed and proactive choices. As we explore the top 10 safety metrics you should be monitoring, remember that there isn't a specific piece of data that can prevent accidents or save lives; it's what we do with that information that has the impact.

How do you measure safety performance?

Measuring safety performance is key to driving continuous improvement in your organization. Safety metrics act as tools for this purpose, giving you insight into how effectively your safety procedures are being applied daily. 

How safety metrics can help improve safety

Incorporating these metrics into your operations means setting up a system where the data collected leads to actionable improvements. By reviewing these metrics, you can spot trends, identify areas that need work, and make necessary safety enhancements. This approach not only lowers risk but also supports a culture where safety is integral to every activity.

Combine different types of metrics

It's important to choose the right safety metrics that align with your operational goals. Balancing leading and lagging indicators is essential for a well-rounded safety strategy. While leading indicators are valuable for spotting potential problems before they occur, lagging indicators are crucial for identifying actual failures and acting as a check on the effectiveness of your safety measures. 

For example, if a serious incident happens despite all safety training and hazard safeguards being in place, it indicates a gap in how leading indicators are used or measured. Thus, combining both types of indicators is vital for a comprehensive view and improvement of your organization's safety performance.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 safety metrics you should start measuring to ensure your organization is doing all it can to improve its safety performance.

Top 10 safety metrics

Leading indicators

1. Average time to resolution of issues

The average time to resolution of issues is an important safety metric that shows how quickly and effectively an organization's safety management system responds to problems. It calculates the time taken from when a safety issue is identified to when it's resolved, offering a clear measure of your team's speed in handling safety concerns.

Prioritizing this metric in your safety metrics is crucial for not only reacting to safety incidents but also for proactively managing workplace safety. A shorter resolution time indicates a strong, responsive safety culture where problems are not just identified quickly but are also dealt with efficiently, reducing risk and maintaining smooth operations.

2. Inspections and audits completed

The number of inspections and audits completed is key to providing a concrete indication of an organization's dedication to upholding and improving safety standards. This metric shows how thoroughly safety procedures are followed and highlights the organization's commitment to meeting regulatory standards and pursuing ongoing enhancement.

Emphasizing inspections and audits completed in your safety metrics is essential for promoting a culture of openness and responsibility. It represents not only compliance with safety regulations but also a proactive approach to recognizing and addressing potential hazards, ensuring a safe and compliant working environment.

3. Employee training completed and attendance

The employee training metric shows how much an organization invests in training and developing its employees' skills. This metric highlights the organization's efforts to create a well-informed and safety-aware workforce.

Focusing on employee safety training is key to building a proactive approach to safety. It shows the organization's commitment to providing its employees with the skills and knowledge they need to spot, report, and address potential risks, improving overall safety and the efficiency of operations.

4. Number of safety observations submitted

This metric clearly shows how involved employees are in spotting hazards and enhancing safety culture. By tracking these observations, businesses can assess the impact of their safety training and communication, promoting early hazard detection and management.

A rise in safety observations indicates that workers are more aware and proactive in preventing accidents. On the other hand, a low count might signal the need for more training or motivation. This metric is key not just for spotting immediate safety issues but also for gathering data that supports long-term safety strategy and improvements.

Adding the number of safety observations submitted to your set of safety metrics makes your safety strategy more adaptable and effective. It enables organizations to quickly deal with risks, creating a work environment where everyone plays a part in maintaining safety.

5. Safeguarding scores

Safeguarding scores measure how effectively an organization identifies and controls hazards. This metric is crucial for assessing how employees identify and mitigate the hazards of their job and where improvements are needed. High scores indicate strong safety practices, while low scores point out areas requiring attention.

Tracking these scores helps organizations quickly identify how, where, and when they are falling short in mitigating safety risk, leading to better safety interventions, including training or updating job procedures. By including safeguarding scores in your safety metrics, you gain a clear picture of your safety performance, enabling you to address risks efficiently and keep your team safe.

Lagging indicators

6. Total recordable incident rate (TRIR)

The total recordable incident rate (TRIR) is crucial for assessing workplace safety and overall operational health. This metric, which measures the frequency of recordable workplace incidents per 100 full-time employees each year, is a standard for evaluating the success of safety measures and pinpointing areas for improvement. 

Adopting TRIR in your set of safety metrics reflects a dedication to creating a safer, more conscious work environment. A reduced TRIR indicates a culture that values safety and actively works to reduce hazards, contributing positively to employee well-being and smooth business operations.

7. Days away, restricted or transferred rate (DART)

The days away, restricted, or transferred rate (DART) is a safety metric that sheds light on the severity and consequences of workplace injuries. It tracks incidents leading to absences, job limitations, or reassignments, providing a clear picture of how workplace incidents disrupt operations, going beyond just counting incidents.

Integrating DART into your safety metrics is key to a thorough grasp of workplace safety. A lower DART rate reflects strong safety practices and a commitment to employee health. It demonstrates the effectiveness of your safety measures in reducing not just the number of incidents but also their severity, helping to keep your workforce safe and productive.

8. Near-miss rate

The near-miss rate acts as an early indicator in your safety management system. It counts incidents that almost led to injury or damage but were just avoided, providing key information about potential hazards before they turn into major issues.

One common practice is to treat each near miss like an incident. As an example, if an employee slips on the ice and in one case, they don’t get injured (near miss) and in another case, the employee breaks their arm (Recordable incident) when bracing for a fall. The only difference in the outcome is that one employee put their arm out to stop the fall and the other didn’t. If luck is the difference in the outcome, then there is no difference.

Focusing on the near-miss rate in your safety metrics, and treating them as incidents, is a proactive way to promote ongoing safety improvement and alertness. It supports a proactive safety mindset, treating each near miss not merely as an incident avoided but as a chance to learn and take early action.

9. Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR)

The lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) is a safety metric that measures how often work-related injuries cause absences from work. It's a key measure of how well safety procedures are working and the general safety of your workplace.

Adding LTIFR to your set of safety metrics is crucial for organizations focused on maintaining strong operations and ensuring employee health. A lower LTIFR indicates a safer work environment and is linked to a more active and efficient workforce, as it relates to less downtime and consistent operational performance.

10. Severity rate

The severity rate is a metric that reveals the seriousness of workplace incidents. It assesses the severity of injuries or illnesses, giving a straightforward view of how these incidents affect your employees.

Adding the severity rate to your safety metrics helps understand the full impact of incidents, not just their frequency. It helps gauge the intensity of each incident, enabling organizations to refine their response and prevention strategies more accurately.

Start improving safety with Aware360’s solutions

Integrating Aware360's solutions represents a significant shift towards a safer, more alert, and interconnected environment. Our range of safety solutions integrates smoothly with your safety policy, transforming the safety metrics you monitor into practical insights and forward-thinking actions.

With Aware360's sophisticated lone worker solutions for real-time monitoring, communication, and response, you're equipping your workforce with the knowledge and resources to avert incidents before they occur. Our solutions are created to be a core part of your safety policy, ensuring that every decision is well-informed, every reaction is prompt, and every team member is safeguarded. The outcome is a clear improvement in worker safety, operational efficiency, and overall peace of mind.

Don't relegate safety to the background. Prioritize it with Aware360.