What it means
A lagging indicator is a safety number that counts outcomes. TRIR, DART, LTIR, lost days and workers' comp claims are all lagging. They record what already happened.
They're useful because they're objective and customers ask for them. They're limited because they only move after someone is hurt. A quiet month on a lagging number can still be a risky one.
Most safety leads read lagging indicators next to leading indicators, like observations, inspections done and training completed.
Why it matters
If lagging numbers are all you watch, you find out about a problem when someone gets hurt. They're the scoreboard. They don't show you what to change today.
What it looks like on a site
- The monthly report lists recordables, lost days and rates for the year to date.
- The lead asks what the numbers say about a past trend, not what to expect next week.
- A low number after a short, quiet stretch isn't treated as proof the site is safe.
- The same report lists leading numbers beside them.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and your own procedures. Back to the glossary