Frequently Asked Questions About DART Rates
Do COVID-19 Cases Need to Be Included In Your DART Rate?
Yes, if the COVID-19 illness is BOTH recordable AND results in the worker having days aways, restricted days or job transfer days. Per OSHA, COVID-19 are recordbale when all of the following are true:
- The case is a confirmed case of COVID-19;
- The case is work-related (as defined by 29 CFR 1904.5)
- The case involves one or more of the general recording criteria set forth in 29 CFR 1904.7 (e.g., medical treatment beyond first aid, days away from work).
What is a DART Incident?
A DART incident is a work-related injury or illness that results in one or more of the following:
What is a "Day Away From Work"?
A "Day Away From Work" is any day (following the day of injury) that a Physician or Licensed Healthcare Professional (PHLCP) concludes that an employee must remain off work.
- This is regardless of whether the employee decides to come to work against the PHLCP's recommendation.
- A supervisor's instructions to not come to work because of a work-related injury/illness likely also makes a case recordable as "days away".
- "Days away" do not need to be recorded if an employee simply chooses not come to work.
- If an employee is unable to get to work because of the injury (e.g. if they are in a cast and cannot drive), "days away" must also be recorded even if work is available.
What if the employee is only out on the day of injury?
29 CFR 1904.7(b)(3)(i) states that the employer is not to count the day of injury or illness as a day away, but is to begin counting days away on the following day. As such, if the employee returns to full duty without restrictions on the day following the injury it would not be a DART case.
What is "Restricted Work"?
"Restricted work" occurs when either the employer or a PLHCP (via a recommendation) keeps an employee from:
- Performing one or more of the "routine functions" of his or her job; or
- Working the full workday that he or she would otherwise have been scheduled to work. (i.e. If an employee typically works 10 hours per day, but is restricted to 8 hours per day by PLHCP.
What is a "routine function"?
"Routine functions" are those work activities an employee regularly performs at least once per week.
- Not being able to do a non-routine task, such as a once-per-month maintenance activity, would not make the case a "restricted case".
- A common misconception is that simply returning an employee to their normal job prevents a case from being recordable (e.g. we can have someone else on the team do the "heavy lifting"). If the employee historically did the "heavy lifting" at least once per week, the case would still be recordable.
- Provided the employee can do their "routine functions," the efficiency/rate at which the employee can work does not matter from a recordkeeping perspective.
- If restrictions are vague, the PHLCP should be contacted for clarification on whether the employee can do their routine functions and work a full shift. If clarification cannot be obtained, the injury/illness should be recorded as a restricted case.
- If an employer is not able to accommodate restrictions, the case must be recorded as "Days Away".
What Hours Should I Include?
"Hours worked" should include all employee work hours (include non-employees that your company supervises) over a 12-month period, but not hours such as vacation, sick leave, holidays, etc (even if such hours were paid). If actual hours worked are not available for employees paid on commission, by salary, or by the mile, etc., hours worked may be estimated on the basis of scheduled hours or 8 hours per workday.
What If We Do Not Track Employee Hours?
If actual hours worked are not available for employees paid on commission, by salary, or by the mile, etc., hours worked may be estimated on the basis of scheduled hours or 8 hours per workday.
How Do I Calculate DART Rates For a Specific Month?
You would use 16,667 hours in the numerator (i.e. top of equation) of the DART rate equation instead of 200,000. This is the equivalent of 12/200,000 and effectively normalizes your DART rate for 10 employees per month instead of 10 employees per year.
Why Is Your Organization's DART Rate Important?
Please see our article on why the DART Rate is important and how to minimize it.
Who can I ask for help with OSHA Recordkeeping?
In addition to offering EHS Incident Reporting Software to help track and manage injuries and illnesses, our company also provides OSHA Recordkeeping assistance in the form of expertise, OSHA recordkeeping reviews, and OSHA recordkeeping form preparation. Please call us at (720) 547-5102 to learn more.
How Incident Reporting Software Can Help
Incident Reporting Software streamlines and simplifies your processes for reporting, tracking, and investigating incidents, which results in:
More Timely Reporting - Incidents and hazards are more likely to be reported in a timely fashion using our efficient incident reporting app.
Improved Performance - Timely reporting results in more efficient responses and corrective action implementation. This reduces the potential for future injuries, eliminates downtime, and improves culture. Prompt reporting also helps ensure injured or ill employees have quicker access to appropriate medical care, which can help get them back to work sooner.
Reduced Risk - Built-in tools are used to efficiently determine root causes and assign, track, and verify corrective actions to ensure issues are quickly identified and addressed.
Lower DART Rate - Learning about injuries and illnesses more quickly enables employers to get involved with the medical care early on. This early involvement can help ensure employees receive the correct medical care but avoid common frustrations, such as clinics prescribing unnecessary medications or physical therapy.
Improved Employee Engagement - When the process for reporting incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions is simple and efficient; employees are more likely to get involved and proactively report concerns. Additionally, software provides an easy means to provide employees feedback on the corrective and preventive actions taken in response to their concerns.
Trend Identification - Standardized forms gather consistent information and improve incident management around the globe. This allows for better trending and improved visibility of areas/activities that need help/resources.
If you need help calculating your company's DART rate, please call (720) 547-5102.
