What Is Lost Time Injury (LTI)?

A Lost Time Injury (LTI) is a workplace injury or illness that results in the worker being unable to perform their normal duties on the next scheduled workday. The injured person misses at least one full shift beyond the day of the incident. LTIs are a critical safety performance indicator on EPC projects, construction sites, refineries, and manufacturing facilities worldwide.

LTIs are classified under OSHA 29 CFR 1904 (United States) and equivalent national regulations (e.g., UK HSE RIDDOR, Australian Safe Work).

Safety Metric Definitions

Metric	Definition	Formula
LTI	Injury causing one or more lost workdays	N/A (event count)
LTIR / LTIFR	Lost Time Injury Rate (Frequency Rate)	(Number of LTIs x 1,000,000) / Total man-hours worked
TRIR	Total Recordable Incident Rate	(Total recordable injuries x 200,000) / Total man-hours worked
DART	Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred	(DART cases x 200,000) / Total man-hours worked
Severity Rate	Lost days per incident	Total lost workdays / Number of LTIs
FAR	Fatal Accident Rate	(Fatalities x 100,000,000) / Total man-hours worked

Pro Tip

LTIFR uses a multiplier of 1,000,000 man-hours (international standard per IOGP). OSHA-based TRIR uses 200,000 man-hours (equivalent to 100 full-time workers for one year). Always confirm which multiplier is specified in the contract before reporting.

OSHA Recordability Hierarchy

Not every workplace injury is an LTI. OSHA classifies injuries in escalating severity:

Classification	Description	Lost Time?
First Aid	Minor treatment (bandage, ice pack, non-prescription medication)	No
Medical Treatment	Treatment beyond first aid (stitches, prescription medication) but worker returns next shift	No (but OSHA recordable)
Restricted Work	Worker returns but cannot perform all normal duties	No (but OSHA recordable)
Lost Time Injury	Worker misses one or more scheduled shifts	Yes
Fatality	Death resulting from workplace injury	Yes

LTIFR Benchmarks

Industry Sector	Typical LTIFR	Source
International Oil & Gas (upstream)	0.3 - 0.8	IOGP annual reports
Refining and petrochemical	0.2 - 0.5	IOGP / AFPM
EPC construction	0.5 - 1.5	Contractor-specific
World-class performance	< 0.2	Major operator targets
Manufacturing (general)	1.0 - 3.0	BLS / national statistics

An LTIFR of zero is the stated target for most major oil and gas operators. Contractors bidding on EPC projects are routinely evaluated on their 3-year rolling LTIFR as part of the prequalification process.

Why LTI Tracking Matters in EPC

EPC projects involve high-risk activities: working at height, heavy lifts, confined space entry, hot work, and operation of heavy equipment. Clients evaluate contractor safety performance before awarding contracts, and an elevated LTIFR can disqualify a bidder.

EPC Phase	Common LTI Causes
Engineering	Office ergonomics (minor), travel incidents
Procurement	Warehouse handling, material inspection at vendor shops
Construction	Falls, struck-by, caught-between, heat stress, hand injuries
Commissioning	Chemical exposure, flammable gas hazards, high-pressure testing

Common Mistake

Classifying a Lost Time Injury as a Restricted Work Case to avoid reporting an LTI. This is a serious compliance violation under OSHA and most international regulations. OSHA requires that the recording decision is based on the physician’s medical judgment, not on employer classification preferences.

reliable safety management systems—including permit-to-work systems, LOTO procedures, and hot work permits—are the primary tools for reducing LTIs on EPC project sites.

Read the full guide to LEL/UEL and flammable gas safety