The Injury Severity Rate (ISR) primarily measures what aspect of workplace safety?

The Injury Severity Rate (ISR) is a key metric used to quantify the impact of workplace injuries on an organization. It reflects the number of workdays lost due to injuries relative to the total number of employees and the time they are exposed to potential hazards. The ISR is calculated by taking the total number of lost workdays resulting from occupational injuries and dividing it by the total number of hours worked, typically scaled to represent a standard rate, such as per 100,000 hours worked.

Measuring the number of workdays lost provides direct insight into the severity of injuries experienced in the workplace. It helps organizations understand not just how frequently accidents are occurring, but also the impact those incidents have on productivity and resource allocation due to downtime caused by injuries.

This metric is particularly valuable for identifying trends in injury severity over time, which can inform decisions around resource allocation for safety training, equipment improvements, and other preventive measures, thereby enhancing the overall safety culture of the organization.