Cal/OSHA Releases the 2025-26 High Hazard Industry List

Quick Hits

• Cal/OSHA’s High Hazard Unit inspects employers with the highest incidences of occupational injuries and illnesses, using an annual list based on “Days Away, Restricted or Transferred” (DART) rates to target high-risk industries.
• The 2025-26 High Hazard Industry List, effective October 1, includes new industry groups and shows generally lower DART rates, with the High Hazard Unit conducting 268 targeted inspections last fiscal year.

The annual High Hazard Industry List is based on “Days Away, Restricted or Transferred” (DART) rates for private sector employers. Cal/OSHA’s High Hazard Industry threshold is less than 200 percent of the private sector average. This is calculated by multiplying the number of injuries and illnesses by 200,000, then dividing that number by employee hours worked. Last year’s average DART rate was 2.0, so the new private sector average is 4.0. This year’s industry average DART rates are generally lower than the previous year. Some industries with high rates on this year’s list include “Couriers and messengers” (9.8), “All other wood product manufacturing” (9.6), “Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly” (8.3), “Soft drink manufacturing” (7.9), “Seasoning and dressing manufacturing” (7.2), and “Framing contractors” (7.1).

The new list adds industry groups such as “Wholesale Trade, Real Estate and Rental Leasing,” and under “Other Services (except Public Administration),” “Death care services,” which increases the number of covered industries from thirty-five to forty-two.

The list is used by the High Hazard Unit to conduct comprehensive targeted, programmed inspections of randomly selected employers in high hazard industries. During the last fiscal year of 2024, the High Hazard Unit conducted 268 targeted inspections which was fewer than their goal of 350. The 2025-26 High Hazard Industry List for the new fiscal year became effective October 1.

Next Steps

California employers that operate in an industry listed on the High Hazard Industry List may want to review their workplace safety practices and workplace safety programs.

Ogletree Deakins’ Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group will continue to monitor developments and will provide updates on the California and Workplace Safety and Health blogs as additional information becomes available.

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