LOST TIME INJURY (LTI)

 LOST TIME INJURY (LTI)

LTI — A Signal of System Weakness, Not Just Human Error 

In industrial environments, a Lost Time Injury (LTI) refers to a workplace injury that results in an employee being unable to perform their regular duties for one or more shifts. But in reality, an LTI is more than a statistic — it is an indicator of gaps in risk assessment, hazard control, supervision, or safety culture.

Knowing LTI categories shifts safety from reactive response to proactive risk control.

A.  The 4 Major Types of Lost Time Injuries

1. Injuries from Machinery

Involving crush injuries, entanglement, cuts, or impact hazards from rotating or moving equipment.

Merit: Drives improvements in guarding, interlocks, and machine safety design.

Demerit: High severity incidents with potential for permanent disability.

2.  Falls & Slips

Trips, unstable surfaces, or working at height. One of the most frequent LTI contributors.

Merit: Encourages better housekeeping, access control, and PPE compliance.

Demerit: Often underestimated because hazards appear “routine.”

3. Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

Musculoskeletal disorders due to poor ergonomics or repetitive tasks.

Merit: Leads to ergonomic optimization and better human–machine interface design.

Demerit: Gradual onset makes early reporting difficult.

4.  Hazardous Materials Exposure

Chemical, dust, fumes, or biological agent exposure.

Merit: Strengthens chemical management systems and emergency preparedness.

Demerit: Long-term health effects may not appear immediately.

B.  Why Reducing LTI Matters

1. Protects workforce wellbeing

2. Minimizes production downtime

3. Reduces compensation and insurance costs

4. Improves regulatory compliance

5. Strengthens operational reliability

Safety is not a department — it is an engineering responsibility embedded in design, operations, and maintenance strategy.

C. Expand Your Safety Engineering Knowledge

1. National Safety Council —  National Safety Council | nsc.org

2. IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) — IOSH Managing Safely Training | iosh.com

3. American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) — American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) | assp.org

4. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) — OSHA Safety Training Institute | osha.gov