OSHA DART Rate Calculator
Calculate your Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rate to measure workplace safety performance according to OSHA standards.
Your DART Rate Results
This means you had 0.0 DART cases per 100 full-time workers during the selected period.
How Your Rate Compares
The 2022 national average DART rate across all private industries was 1.3 cases per 100 full-time workers (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Comprehensive Guide to Calculating OSHA DART Rate
The OSHA DART rate (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred) is a critical metric for measuring workplace safety performance. This rate helps employers understand how frequently workers experience injuries or illnesses that result in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer.
What is the DART Rate?
The DART rate is part of OSHA’s injury and illness recordkeeping system. It specifically measures cases that involve:
- Days Away from Work: Cases where the employee couldn’t work for one or more full days
- Restricted Work Activity: Cases where the employee couldn’t perform all normal job duties
- Job Transfer: Cases where the employee was transferred to another job due to injury/illness
Why the DART Rate Matters
The DART rate provides several important benefits:
- Safety Benchmarking: Compare your performance against industry averages
- Regulatory Compliance: Required for OSHA recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904)
- Workplace Improvement: Identify areas needing safety interventions
- Insurance Impact: Lower rates can reduce workers’ compensation premiums
How to Calculate DART Rate: Step-by-Step
The DART rate formula is:
(Number of DART Cases × 200,000) ÷ Total Hours Worked = DART Rate
Where 200,000 represents the base for 100 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week for 50 weeks).
Example Calculation:
If your company had:
- 5 DART cases
- 1,000,000 total hours worked
Your DART rate would be: (5 × 200,000) ÷ 1,000,000 = 1.0
DART Rate vs. Other OSHA Metrics
| Metric | What It Measures | 2022 National Average | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DART Rate | Cases with days away, restricted work, or transfer | 1.3 | Most comprehensive severity measure |
| TCIR (Total Case Incident Rate) | All recordable injuries/illnesses | 2.7 | Includes all cases regardless of severity |
| Days Away Rate | Only cases with days away from work | 0.9 | Most severe cases only |
Industry-Specific DART Rate Benchmarks
DART rates vary significantly by industry. Here are some 2022 benchmarks from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Industry | 2022 DART Rate | Change from 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 1.6 | ↓ 0.1 |
| Manufacturing | 1.3 | → No change |
| Healthcare | 2.1 | ↑ 0.2 |
| Retail Trade | 1.0 | ↓ 0.1 |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 2.5 | ↑ 0.3 |
Common Mistakes in DART Rate Calculation
Avoid these errors when calculating your DART rate:
- Incorrect Hours: Using payroll hours instead of actual hours worked
- Missing Cases: Not including restricted work or transfer cases
- Wrong Base: Forgetting to multiply by 200,000 for annual rates
- Double Counting:
- Time Period Errors: Not adjusting the base hours for quarters or other periods
How to Improve Your DART Rate
Reducing your DART rate requires a comprehensive safety program:
- Hazard Identification: Conduct regular workplace inspections
- Employee Training: Provide ongoing safety education
- Ergonomic Improvements: Reduce strain and repetitive motion injuries
- Safety Culture: Encourage reporting and near-miss analysis
- Return-to-Work Programs: Implement modified duty options
OSHA Recordkeeping Requirements
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1904, most employers with 10+ employees must:
- Keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses
- Use OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301
- Post the annual summary (Form 300A) from February 1 to April 30
- Report severe incidents (fatalities, hospitalizations) within 8-24 hours
Electronic Reporting Requirements
Certain high-risk industries must electronically submit their injury and illness data to OSHA annually. As of 2023, establishments with:
- 250+ employees must submit Forms 300, 300A, and 301
- 20-249 employees in designated industries must submit Form 300A
Using DART Rate for Continuous Improvement
Your DART rate should be more than just a number – it should drive action:
- Trend Analysis: Track your rate monthly/quarterly to spot patterns
- Root Cause Analysis: Investigate each DART case to prevent recurrence
- Benchmarking: Compare against industry peers and best-in-class companies
- Goal Setting: Establish realistic reduction targets (e.g., 10% annual improvement)
- Communication: Share results with employees to build safety ownership
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the difference between DART rate and TCIR?
A: The DART rate only includes cases with days away, restricted work, or transfer, while TCIR (Total Case Incident Rate) includes all recordable injuries and illnesses, regardless of severity.
Q: How often should we calculate our DART rate?
A: Best practice is to calculate it monthly for internal tracking, with official annual calculations for OSHA reporting.
Q: Do we include contractor injuries in our DART rate?
A: No, OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements only apply to your own employees. However, you should track contractor incidents separately for safety management purposes.
Q: What’s considered a “good” DART rate?
A: A good DART rate is one that’s:
- Below your industry average
- Showing consistent improvement year-over-year
- At or below 1.0 for most general industry employers
Q: How does OSHA verify our DART rate?
A: OSHA may verify through:
- Recordkeeping inspections
- Employee interviews
- Comparison with workers’ compensation data
- Review of your OSHA 300 logs during inspections
Additional Resources
For more information about OSHA recordkeeping and DART rate calculations: