2025 IADC ISP annual report: LTI, recordable rates fell, but number of fatalities edges up to 9
Industry shows continued improvement as global LTI rate fell by 7.7% to 0.12 while recordable rate decreased by more than 10% to 0.41
The global drilling industry saw mixed safety results in 2025, according to the newest IADC Incident Statistics Program (ISP) annual report. On the positive side, both the total lost-time incidence (LTI) rate and total recordable rate fell. The overall LTI rate fell to 0.12 in 2025, representing a 7.7% decrease from 0.13 in 2024. The global recordable rate also improved by 10.9% from 0.46 in 2024 to 0.41 in 2025.
Less positively, the industry saw more fatalities this year. Data shows there were a total of nine fatalities in 2025, compared with eight in 2024. Three of those nine occurred in the Middle East, while Europe and Asia Pacific each recorded two and the US and Africa each recorded one. The incident type with the most fatalities was “struck by,” followed by “slip/fall different level.”
These numbers represent 409.7 million manhours worked during the year, reported by 72 participating drilling contractors.
Regional analysis
Africa’s onshore sector worked a total 31.4 million manhours, while its LTI fell from 0.27 in 2024 to 0.23 and its recordable rate increased from 0.87 to 0.96. One fatality occurred.
Its offshore sector worked 14.9 million manhours, with an LTI rate of 0.03 and recordable rate of 0.22 (compared with 0.09 and 0.24 in the previous year, respectively).
Asia Pacific onshore worked 5.6 million manhours with one fatality. Its LTI rate rose from 0.04 to 0.07, and its recordable rate rose from 0.18 to 0.21.
The offshore segment worked 22.4 million manhours and also saw one fatality. However, it was able to push its LTI rate down to 0.03 from 0.07 and its recordable rate to 0.19 from 0.20.
Australasia’s onshore operations accounted for 1.9 million manhours, an LTI rate of 0.11 (down from 0.39) and a recordable rate of 0.74 (down from 1.37).
Its offshore operations accounted for 2.7 million manhours, an LTI rate of 0.00 (unchanged from the year prior) and a recordable rate of 0.30 (down from 0.77 before).
Canada’s onshore segment worked 9.2 million manhours, with the LTI rate just slightly improved from 0.27 to 0.26. Its recordable rate saw more improvement, however, going from 1.40 to 0.84.
Its offshore sector worked 277,844 manhours. There was no change in its 0.00 LTI rate from the prior year. However, its recordable rate rose significantly, from 0.28 in 2024 to 2.16 in 2025.
Central America Caribbean onshore worked 380,279 manhours. It saw deteriorations in both its LTI rate, which went from 0.00 in 2024 to 0.53 in 2025, and its recordable rate, which climbed from 0.37 to 1.05.
Central America Caribbean offshore worked just over 4.0 million manhours. Its 2025 LTI of 0.10 compares with 0.24 in 2024, and its recordable rate dropped from 0.66 to 0.59.
Europe land worked 4.3 million manhours with one fatality. It saw improvement in its LTI rate, which fell from 0.96 to 0.61. Its recordable rate also improved from 1.20 to 0.75.
Europe offshore worked 20.3 million manhours, also with one fatality. Its 2025 LTI rate of 0.15 shows an improvement over the 2024 rate of 0.19. Its recordable rate also improved from 0.67 to 0.51.
Middle East land worked 129.7 million manhours with three fatalities. Its LTI rate remained fairly steady, going from 0.05 last year to 0.06 this year, as did its recordable rate (0.12 in 2024 vs 0.13 in 2025).
Middle East offshore worked 65.5 million manhours and saw similar LTI rates (0.04 in 2024 vs 0.05 in 2025) and recordable rates (0.17 in 2024 vs 0.18 in 2025).
South America land worked 8.0 million manhours. It nearly halved its LTI rate, which decreased from 0.13 in 2024 to 0.07 in 2025. Its recordable rate also declined significantly, going from 0.59 to 0.37.
South America offshore worked 26.5 million manhours. Both the LTI and recordable rates remained fairly steady – 0.09 and 0.26 in 2025 vs 0.10 and 0.28 in 2024, respectively.
US land worked nearly 46.0 million manhours with one fatality. It saw a slight rise in its LTI rate, from 0.32 to 0.34, but a decrease in its recordable rate, from 1.26 to 1.18.
US offshore worked 16.7 million manhours. It improved its LTI rate from 0.11 in 2024 to 0.07 in 2025 and its recordable rate from 0.56 to 0.50. DC
Note: There may be slight discrepancies in the numbers cited due to rounding up/down. For full numbers, please see table at left or the full ISP report on the IADC website.
Click here to access full 2025 ISP report from IADC’s website.
