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Measuring Safety Performance

What you measure shapes what people pay attention to. Measure actions that prevent harm, not only injuries after they happen.

Why measure safety at all?

Measurement helps you see whether efforts are working, where to focus and what is slipping. Without it, you rely on impressions, which are easy to get wrong. Simple counts, kept the same way every season, tell you more than a complex system that no one maintains.

On small farms there may be few injuries, so counts alone say little. You need other signals.

A good measure is easy to collect, easy to understand and tied to a decision. If you cannot say what you would do with a number, you probably do not need it.

What are lagging indicators?

Lagging indicators look back: injuries, illnesses, lost workdays, insurance claims and property damage. They matter, but they show harm that has already happened.

Be careful using them alone. A low number can be luck, and a focus on the number can lead to hidden injuries.

Count events consistently. If one person records every minor cut and another records nothing, the numbers will mislead. Agree on what counts and write it down.

• Injuries and illnesses
• Time away from work
• Claims and costs
• Property damage events

What are leading indicators?

Leading indicators look forward: training completed, equipment inspections done, hazards found and fixed, near misses reported and safety meetings held.

They show activity that prevents injuries and can be tracked even when no one is hurt. They also show where the system is weak.

Near-miss reports are a good sign, not a bad one. A rising number often means people trust the system and are watching more closely, which is what you want.

• Training completed
• Inspections and fixes
• Near-miss reports
• Safety meetings held

How do you keep it simple?

Choose three to five measures that fit your farm. Write down how you will count them, who is responsible and how often you will review them. Keep a master list of definitions on the same page as your counts.

A simple chart in the shop or a monthly note to the crew is enough. A complicated system will not be kept up.

Review your chosen measures with workers once, to confirm that the list makes sense to the people who do the work. Remove any that nobody understands.

• Who collects each measure
• How often it is reviewed
• What decision it supports

How do you use the numbers?

Use measurements to start conversations, not to blame. If hazards are found but not fixed, ask what is blocking the fix. If near-miss reports drop, ask whether people feel safe reporting. Include workers whenever you can, since their view of the work is often the most accurate.

Share results with workers and ask what they think they mean.

Set small goals that people can reach, such as finishing training before the busy season or fixing reported hazards within an agreed number of days that you choose.

What are the pitfalls?

Counting can push people to hide problems. Rewards or punishments tied to injury counts are risky. Make sure workers are never penalized for honest reports. Avoid ranking individuals by their numbers, which can damage trust quickly.

Beware of comparing your numbers with other farms without knowing how they were collected. Ask OSHA or extension for guidance.

Official sources define how certain injuries are counted for legal purposes. Ask OSHA or your state agency for those definitions, and do not rely on informal rules.

• Pressure to hide problems
• Comparing unlike farms
• Using one number as the whole story

How do you review and improve?

Review measures each season. Ask whether they are telling you what you need to know, and change them if not.

Add or drop measures as your farm changes, and let workers know why.

Keep records in a form that you can read next year. A good habit is a one-page summary each season with what you counted and what you decided.

• Review each season
• Ask workers for input
• Adjust measures when needed
• Replace measures nobody uses

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.