Some coal beds lie within 200 feet of the earthâs surface. These beds are mined by stripping the top soil off the coal. Then the coal is dug out. This is called surface mining. Deeper coal beds can be found up to 1,000 feet/305 meters below the earth.
The DART rate includes company-reported injuries that result in days away from work, restrictions from normal job duties, or both. While the national DART rate average is 2.5 per 100 employees, this yearâs targeted group of companies scored 6.0 or higher when OSHA surveyed the companiesâ injury reports last year. Overall, 14,000 general industry and construction companies were notified, and OSHA is currently looking at 4,250 work sites as primary inspection targets based on DART rates.
Since 2003, OSHA has kept an eye on precastersâ DART rates, and inspections come as no surprise to many companies with high numbers. More recently, however, the safety group has labeled these manufacturers as a special interest group.