Class Code 0016
Orchards – Citrus Or Deciduous Fruits
Class Code 0016 covers work in orchards producing citrus and deciduous fruits. This classification includes field operations such as pruning, harvesting, spraying, and irrigation; the approved pure premium rate for California effective Sept 1, 2026 is $6.392 per $100 of payroll. Understanding the scope and hazards of orchard work helps employers control costs and stay compliant.
What Class Code 0016 Covers
This classification applies to on-site orchard operations for citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit) and deciduous fruit trees (apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines). Covered activities include planting and transplanting trees, pruning and limb removal, thinning and canopy management, hand and mechanical harvesting, field sorting and packing done at the orchard site, pesticide and nutrient application in the field, irrigation and drainage maintenance, stump removal and orchard floor management. It also includes operation of orchard-specific equipment such as tractors, orchard sprayers, hydraulic harvest platforms, platform lifts, and power-driven pruning tools when used in the orchard. Packinghouse, cold storage, or canning/processing activities are generally classified separately unless those operations occur in the orchard area.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial citrus growers (orange, lemon, grapefruit operations)
- Deciduous fruit orchards (apple, pear, peach, plum growers)
- Seasonal and permanent orchard harvest crews and pickers
- Tractor, sprayer and mechanical harvester operators working in orchards
- Pesticide applicators and handlers assigned to orchard treatments
- Orchard managers, foremen, and field maintenance technicians
Common Job Duties
- Pruning and limb removal using hand tools and power pruners
- Hand-picking fruit and operating mechanical harvesters or platforms
- Mixing, loading, and applying pesticides and fertilizers with orchard sprayers
- Installing and repairing irrigation systems, pumps and drip lines
- Operating tractors, chipper/shredders, mowers and winches in the orchard
- Field sorting, packing fruit into bins or boxes on-site
- Removing tree stumps, replanting and canopy/thinning work
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $6.392 Rate
The pure premium rate of $6.392 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of workers' compensation losses for this class before insurance company expenses and adjustments. To estimate pure premium, divide total payroll for Class 0016 by 100 and multiply by 6.392 (for example, $100,000 payroll yields $6,392 pure premium). Your final premium will also reflect your carrier's loss adjustment expenses, administrative loadings, experience modification, scheduled credits/debits and any deductible or retrospective rating programs.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Orchard employers must implement a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and Cal/OSHA's Heat Illness Prevention rules (Title 8 §3395) for outdoor workers. Pesticide handling must comply with California DPR rules and federal Worker Protection standards, and employers must follow Hazard Communication (Title 8 §5194), provide required training, PPE and decontamination facilities. Additional Cal/OSHA requirements relevant to orchards include ladder and fall-safety practices, machine guarding for powered equipment, field sanitation and potable water/restroom access, and respiratory protection programs if required by exposures.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 0016
A PEO like Key HR helps orchard employers by ensuring accurate classification and payroll reporting, implementing and auditing IIPPs and heat illness prevention plans, and delivering pesticide and equipment safety training. Key HR also manages claims and return-to-work programs, leverages group buying power for competitive premiums, and provides safety consultants and loss control services to reduce frequency and severity of claims.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 0016 include packinghouse or cold storage work?
No. Class Code 0016 is for orchard field operations. Packinghouse, cold storage or processing work is typically assigned to separate industrial class codes; if sorting or packing occurs entirely in the field as part of harvesting, that limited activity may remain in 0016.
How should seasonal harvest labor be reported?
Seasonal workers are reported under the same class if performing orchard work, but payroll should be tracked precisely for the period worked. If you use labor contractors or staffing agencies, those relationships can change classification and employer-of-record responsibilities—verify contracts and reporting with your PEO or carrier.
What mandatory trainings and controls reduce comp risk in orchards?
Required and effective controls include heat illness prevention training and acclimatization, pesticide handler and worker training per DPR/WPS, ladder and aerial platform safety, PPE for chemical and mechanical tasks, machine guarding and lockout procedures, and a documented IIPP with regular toolbox talks and incident investigations.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 0016
- Classification
- Orchards – Citrus Or Deciduous Fruits
- Pure Premium Rate
- $6.392 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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