The Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART) provides national and international leadership in applied research focused on the prevention of occupational illness and injury and intervention effectiveness. At the worksite and in the laboratory, DART research provides a focal point for:

• Exposure Assessment Methods
  DART conducts research to develop and evaluate sampling and analytical methods for chemical hazards found in the workplace and to develop, evaluate, and improve aerosol science and its associated technology. This research includes quantitative and qualitative analysis of workplace chemicals and complex mixtures.
  
  
• Health Assessment Methods
  DART assesses workers' exposures and studies the effects of these occupational exposures through the analysis of various human tissues and fluids. This includes developing and applying new and existing biological monitoring analytical methods, developing and employing sensitive molecular and biochemical technologies, and investigating issues related to reproductive health.
  
  
• Engineering and Control Technology
  DART conducts research to identify, evaluate, develop, and implement technology to prevent worker exposure to chemical, biological, and physical agents and to reduce risks for traumatic and repetitive injuries. Research includes computational fluid dynamics for the design and evaluation of workplace controls and investigation of hazards associated with emerging technologies and changing workplace environments.
  
  
• Physical Hazards
  DART conducts workplace research on noise and hearing loss prevention and on non-ionizing radiation. This research encompasses basic etiology, control technology, personal protective equipment, intervention effectiveness, and occupational health risks resulting from worker exposure to physical hazards.
  
  
• Work Organization
  DART conducts research on organizational intervention to prevent occupational illness and injury—including physical, neurobehavioral, and psychological disorders—and to reduce the economic, social and organizational burdens associated with these disorders.
  
  
• Ergonomics
  DART conducts research on human factors, such as job and tool design, biomechanics and work physiology, environmental and neurobehavioral stressors, lifting and upper extremity exposures, and work capacity. The goal of this research is to develop interventions, such as job accommodation, economic interventions, organizational (regulatory) and individual compliance interventions, and training.
  
  
• Health Services Research
  DART conducts research in health service delivery issues and in occupational safety and health program designs and evaluation. The goals of this research include enhanced occupational safety and health program design, improved job accommodation, health promotion interventions, return to work programs, and occupational safety and health training.