1. What is the OSHA Severity Rate?

The OSHA Severity Rate is a safety metric that measures the severity of workplace injuries and illnesses. It calculates the number of lost workdays per 200,000 hours worked, which represents the number of hours 100 employees would work in a year (based on 40-hour work weeks for 50 weeks).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the OSHA Severity Rate formula:

Where:

• Number of Lost Workdays — Total days away from work due to workplace injuries or illnesses
• Total Hours Worked — Sum of hours worked by all employees during the period
• 200,000 — Base for 100 full-time equivalent workers (40 hrs/week × 50 weeks × 100 workers)

Explanation: This rate helps organizations compare injury severity across different time periods or between companies of different sizes.

3. Importance of Severity Rate Calculation

Details: Tracking severity rates helps organizations identify safety issues, measure the effectiveness of safety programs, benchmark against industry standards, and prioritize safety improvements. Lower severity rates indicate better safety performance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of lost workdays and total hours worked by all employees during the measurement period. Ensure accurate data collection for meaningful results.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between incidence rate and severity rate?
A: Incidence rate measures how frequently injuries occur, while severity rate measures how serious they are in terms of lost work time.

Q2: What is considered a good severity rate?
A: Lower rates are better. Industry benchmarks vary, but generally rates below the industry average indicate good safety performance.

Q3: How often should severity rates be calculated?
A: Most organizations calculate rates monthly, quarterly, and annually to track trends and identify seasonal patterns.

Q4: What types of injuries count toward lost workdays?
A: OSHA recordable injuries that result in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer.

Q5: Are there limitations to this metric?
A: Yes, it doesn't capture near misses or injuries with no lost time, and can be influenced by a single severe incident.