DART vs TRIR for health and safety performance

When it comes to DART vs TRIR, you need both metrics to improve your incident management strategy. The key to better performance is having full visibility over these and other metrics at any time so you can make quick, effective decisions. To do that, you have to understand each KPI and what it can tell you about safety at your facility.

What is the difference between DART and TRIR?

The biggest difference between DART and TRIR is the scope of what they measure. While TRIR measures the total quantity of OSHA-recordable incidents, DART measures the result of those incidents and their impact on the business.

Here is a definition of each metric:

DART rate stands for “Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred.” It is the rate of recordable incidents that result in employees either being absent from the operation or having their work duties altered or reduced.

TRIR is the total number of OSHA-recordable incidents that happen within a certain period. By OSHA’s definition, recordable incidents are any injuries or illnesses that require more than first aid treatment. They can (but don’t have to) result in restricted work duties or time away from work.

When comparing DART vs TRIR, be careful how you apply them. If you just want a broad idea of EHS performance, TRIR offers a more general scope. Use DART to quantify the aftermath of your safety incidents so you can improve future outcomes.

What you can learn from DART and TRIR

Together, DART and TRIR provide insight on the frequency and impact of workplace safety incidents. Here are some of the top insights you can get from each metric.

DART insights

Analyzing your DART rate is a great way to gauge the severity of workplace safety incidents. If you compare the rate across departments or processes, you can figure out which areas of the operation have higher severe injury risks. Then, you can use that information to create safety programs and control measures that reduce risks and prevent incidents.

DART rate also helps you explain the operational impact of safety incidents. In your operations meetings with senior management, use DART rate to communicate how many hours you lost to these incidents. If you’re asking for EHS budget increases, equipment, or other resources, this information may help you argue your case.

TRIR insights

The main benefit of TRIR is that it helps you assess your overall safety performance over time. With it, you can answer questions like:

• Which months are the most dangerous in the facility?
• Since implementing [SAFETY MEASURE], have there been less incidents?
• Which processes are the most dangerous in the facility?
• Which body part(s) are at greatest risk of injury?

Since TRIR is one of the most widely tracked metrics, you can usually find a benchmark rate for your industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes industry averages for incident rates, so you can use that data to compare your performance to others in your industry.

How to calculate DART and TRIR

Below are the formulas for both metrics:

DART rate calculation: DART rate = ( Total # of recordable incidents involving days away from work, transfers, or restrictions x 200,000) / Total # of employee hours worked

TRIR calculation: TRIR = (Total # of recordable incidents) x 200,000 / (Total # of employee hours worked)

Within these formulas, 200,000 equates to the total number of hours that 100 full-time employees would work in a year. This standard makes it easy to compare rates across companies.

[Use our free DART rate calculator and TRIR calculator to save time!]

Benefits of tracking DART and TRIR

Tracking DART and TRIR helps you better understand where safety incidents happen in your facility and how you can prevent them. To do this, you have to analyze these metrics from different angles. Try comparing the DART rate of different departments, for example, to see which one has higher risks and therefore needs more safety measures in place.

Having a high TRIR means that you need to reevaluate your safety program and figure out where the gaps are. You can do this by reviewing past incidents to see which variables like location, process, equipment, etc., were involved.

If you track these metrics, you’ll be able to brainstorm more effective solutions for everyday EHS problems. Long-term, this means you’ll spend less time managing incidents and more time preventing them.

To measure DART and TRIR, you need to keep detailed safety records. This means using incident management software to document all incidents and your corrective actions. Use your records to build safety profiles for each job or department so you can steer your safety program to the areas with the highest risk level. Then, perform audits regularly to make sure that you’re staying on top of the risks and adjusting your strategy when it no longer works.