Lost Time Injury: Definition, Types & How to Prevent it

A workplace injury doesn’t just affect one employee—it disrupts the entire team. When incidents lead to missed days and lost productivity, they also impact project deadlines, morale, and the bottom line. 

This is where lost time injury (LTI) comes into play—a crucial metric that helps you understand the cost of workplace injuries leading to employee downtime. 

In industries like construction, manufacturing, and healthcare, reducing LTIs can feel like an uphill battle. But with the right approach, it’s possible to turn these setbacks into opportunities for improved safety and efficiency. 

In this guide, we’ll break down what lost time injury is, why it matters, the types of LTIs and their impact, and how to calculate your lost time incident rate.

What is a Lost Time Injury (LTI)?

A lost time injury involves a workplace incident that results in an employee missing at least one full workday (or, in severe cases – months) due to an injury or illness. 

LTIs are used as a metric that helps you understand the health and safety risks present within your workplace. Unlike minor incidents where an employee can quickly return to work, LTIs indicate more serious injuries that require time away to recover. 

When it comes to LTIs, there are two key metrics used to measure it:

• Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) 
• Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)

These metrics track the number of LTIs per hour worked and essentially help you evaluate your safety practices and compare your performance against industry standards. 

Employers also have legal obligations around reporting LTIs. Misclassifying or underreporting incidents can lead to legal repercussions and missed opportunities to improve safety protocols, putting more employees at risk.

4 Types of Lost Time Injury

Lost time injuries can stem from various workplace incidents, each presenting unique risks and challenges across industries. 

Here are some of the most common LTIs you should be aware of: 

1. Injuries from Machinery & Vehicles

Machinery-related injuries are one of the main sources of LTIs, particularly in manufacturing and construction. Workers handling heavy or complex machinery risk cuts, crush injuries, and entanglement, making construction and manufacturing safety a critical focus.

For instance, a worker might accidentally get their hand caught in a machine or misuse tools, which can require weeks or even months for full recovery. To mitigate these risks, you should do regular machinery maintenance and ensure all your equipment has safeguards.

Vehicle related injuries are also prominent. This type of injury is common in industries that rely on trucking, construction vehicles, and other heavy equipment. From rollovers to collisions, these incidents not only risk severe injuries but can also be fatal. 

The recovery process can be lengthy and complex, adding to operational downtime. Things like regular vehicle maintenance and investing in comprehensive safety training for all vehicle operators can go a long way in preventing such serious accidents.

2. Falls and Slips

Falls, slips, and trips resulted in hundreds of thousands of worker injuries and 865 deaths in 2022. This type of injury is most common in the construction, warehousing, and manufacturing industries. 

The reality is that even minor falls can lead to fractures, sprains, or head injuries, causing substantial downtime. That’s why ensuring safety through hazard awareness, proper footwear, and secure handrails can protect your employees and reduce the risk of such injuries.

3. Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) are the result of repetitive tasks or awkward postures, commonly affecting those in assembly lines, office settings, and manual labor. Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic back pain can develop gradually but often require extended recovery periods.

Additionally, RSIs cost about $20 billion annually in workers’ compensation costs and another $100 billion in lost productivity and employee turnover.

Things that can help prevent this type of injury include:

• Ergonomic workstations
• Regular breaks
• Physical therapy support

4. Exposure to Hazardous Materials

Workes in manufacturing, healthcare, and construction often have to work with hazardous materials. Different chemical substances, dust, and biological agents can cause various health problems, including respiratory issues, skin irritation, chemical burns, or even long-term health complications. 

To protect your workers, ensure they’re wearing protective equipment, have proper ventilation, and follow all safety protocols.

How to Calculate Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)

The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate indicates your organization’s safety performance and helps you set goals for reducing LTIs.

The Formula

The LTIFR formula is:

LTIFR = (Number of Lost Time Injuries × 200,000)/ Total Hours Worked

Breaking Down the Formula:

• Number of Lost Time Injuries: Total incidents that resulted in an employee missing at least one workday.
• Total Hours Worked: Combined hours worked by all employees during a specific period, usually one year.
• Multiplier (200,000): This number standardizes the rate, making it easier to interpret and compare. The value of 200,000 is roughly equivalent to 100 employees working 2,000 hours annually.

Note: Using a multiplier ensures the lost time injury calculation is expressed as a whole number instead of a small decimal, which is more straightforward for communication and comparison. Some companies may use 1,000,000 as a multiplier, but 200,000 remains standard in most cases.

Example Calculation

Suppose a company recorded 3 lost time injuries in a year. During the same year, employees worked a total of 950,000 hours.

Plugging in the values:

LTIFR = (3 x 200,000) / 950,000

LTIFR = 600,000 / 950,000 = 0.63

This LTIFR of 0.63 indicates that there were 0.63 lost time injuries for every 200,000 hours worked during the year. 

Monitoring this rate over time can help you identify trends, measure improvements, and make data-driven safety decisions.

The Impact of Lost Time Injuries

Lost time injuries impact not only the injured employee but also the financial health, operational efficiency, and culture of an organization. Let’s take a closer look:

Financial Costs

Did you know that in 2022, the total cost of work-related injuries in the U.S. exceeded $167 billion?

Lost time injuries result in direct expenses like medical bills, workers’ compensation claims, and insurance costs, all of which can quickly accumulate. But indirect costs often hit harder: this includes productivity loss, training expenses for temporary replacements, and administrative resources dedicated to incident management. 

Operational Disruptions

When a worker is absent due to an injury, projects may face delays, especially in industries like construction or manufacturing, where specific roles are critical to daily tasks. 

This can result in increased workloads for the remaining staff, raising stress and fatigue levels, which in turn heightens the risk of further accidents. As workflows are interrupted, team efficiency decreases, creating bottlenecks that affect deadlines and output quality. 

To avoid such disruptions, you can cross-train workers and have a ready plan in case of LTIs.

Organizational and Cultural Impact

If an employee witnesses or experiences an injury, it can impact their mental health awareness, leading to lower morale, increased stress, and decreased engagement in the workplace.

Companies that have high LTI rates may struggle with staff retention, as team members may feel unsafe or undervalued. This can also hurt the company’s reputation, affecting relationships with clients, partners, and potential hires. 

That’s why it’s vital to create a proactive safety culture – this makes the workplace not only safer but also more appealing.

Preventing Lost Time Injuries

Preventing an LTI is always better than dealing with the aftermath of an accident. But what makes an effective workplace injury prevention strategy, especially if you’re in a high-risk industry?

Here are a few practical ways in which you can prevent LTIs:

Employee Training and Education

Regular workshops, safety certifications, and refresher courses are powerful ways to reduce LTIs. These ensure that everyone is equipped with up-to-date knowledge of best practices, from machine handling to emergency protocols. 

For example, businesses with employees who are actively following safe task procedures experience 62% fewer safety incidents. In addition, training programs tailored to specific job roles can help employees identify and avoid hazards relevant to their daily tasks.

Environmental and Ergonomic Assessments

Conducting regular assessments of the work environment and workplace ergonomics can lower the risk of workplace injuries. This way, you can easily identify high-risk areas—such as poorly lit workspaces or high-traffic zones—and make adequate adjustments. 

In office settings, ergonomic adjustments can reduce musculoskeletal disorders by up to 60%, while in high-risk environments, they can reduce injuries from heavy lifting, awkward postures, and repetitive motions.

Building a Safety-First Culture

When employees feel encouraged to report unsafe conditions without fear of reprimand, workplace safety becomes a collective responsibility. 

But how do you achieve that?

Open communication channels and support from leadership help cultivate this culture. Additionally, companies that embrace this attitude in day-to-day operations often see a reduction in LTIs.

Wellness and Mental Health Support

Physical health and mental well-being go hand in hand in reducing LTIs. 

But stress, fatigue, and burnout are common occurrences in the workforce. In turn, these can lead to inattentiveness and increase the likelihood of workplace accidents. 

By offering wellness programs and mental health resources, you can help your workers alleviate these issues while phased return-to-work plans enable recovering employees to gradually reintegrate. 

Moreover, studies show that companies with strong wellness programs report a 42% decrease in work-related illnesses.

Addressing Lost Time Injuries Factors

Lost time injuries often stem from underlying factors that, if unaddressed, can lead to recurring incidents, extended recovery times, and costly disruptions. 

Here are a few of these often-neglected factors and practical strategies you can implement to address them: 

Absence of Immediate Injury Response Procedure

Without a planned workplace injury procedure, minor injuries can quickly escalate, leading to longer recovery times and extended absences. 

The answer? Having a prompt, on-site medical response that can make all the difference in the outcome. 

That’s why having a responsive workplace injury management system can help your workers receive quick, effective care, reducing both pain and potential LTIs. Providing on-site first aid training and telemedicine options ensures that injured employees can get the right treatment right away.

Lack of Tailored Return-to-Work Programs

Every injury and recovery journey is unique, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach often falls short. Without a return-to-work program tailored to the individual’s condition, the risk of re-injury increases, and workers may struggle with reintegration. 

By developing customized transitional work programs that align with an employee’s specific needs and recovery timeline, you can provide a safe and gradual return to work. This not only reduces the chance of re-injury but also demonstrates your support for the employee’s recovery. 

Care Coordination Challenges

Inconsistent work injury care coordination can result in miscommunication, unmet milestones, and a less effective recovery process. On the other hand, establishing a coordinated care strategy that includes regular updates and clear timelines helps keep all parties aligned and fosters a structured and supportive path back to full productivity. 

This can lead to better team morale and ensures that returning employees feel prepared and supported in their transition back to work.

Conclusion

Effectively calculating and reducing LTIs is essential for fostering a safe and productive workplace. This not only prioritizes employee well-being but also strengthens the organization as a whole. 

By implementing tried-and-tested LTI management practices, you can make strides toward long-term safety and productivity goals. 

If you’re looking for comprehensive workplace injury solutions, JobSiteCare provides specialized care and tailored safety programs. Contact us to learn how we can help you safeguard your workforce.

Lost Time Injury FAQ