Class Code 0079
Strawberry Crops
Class Code 0079 covers workers and operations directly involved with strawberry crops in California, including field planting, tending, harvesting, and on-farm packing. The WCIRB-approved pure premium rate for this classification effective September 1, 2026 is $2.453 per $100 of payroll. Knowing this classification matters because strawberry operations use seasonal crews, equipment and agrochemicals that drive specific loss patterns and underwriting decisions.
What Class Code 0079 Covers
This classification applies to on‑farm activities devoted to the production of strawberries: preparing beds, transplanting and planting, cultivating, weeding, irrigation and fertilizer application, hand harvesting, field sorting and packing in temporary on‑farm sheds, and on‑site cooling or short‑term cold storage. It includes workers who perform routine plant care (pruning, runners removal), install and maintain drip or overhead irrigation, and operate tractors or small implements dedicated to strawberry rows. Picking crews that hand-harvest fruit into lug boxes or clamshells and employees who pack or grade fruit in on‑farm packing lines are included. Activities performed by licensed pesticide applicators or specialized fumigation crews should be coded separately when payroll is reportable under a pesticide applicator class; similarly, off‑site processing or canning work is outside this code.
Who It Applies To
- Hand harvesters and pickers who remove strawberries and place fruit into containers
- Field sorters and packers working in on‑farm packing sheds or mobile packing lines
- Irrigation, transplanting, and cultivation crews who maintain beds and drip systems
- Tractor and implement operators used for bed shaping, cultivation, or transport
- On‑site cold storage and post‑harvest handlers who cool and stage fruit for shipment
Common Job Duties
- Hand‑picking ripe strawberries, bending and placing fruit into lug boxes or clamshells
- Sorting, grading and packing berries on tables or mechanized conveyors in field sheds
- Installing, repairing and monitoring drip irrigation lines and hoses
- Operating small tractors, walk‑behind cultivators, and utility ATVs for field tasks
- Weeding, pruning runners, and applying fertilizer and soil amendments
- Moving harvested pallets, stacking bins, and loading trucks for transport
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.453 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $2.453 per $100 of payroll is the portion of premium that reflects expected claim costs for Class Code 0079. Insurers multiply your recorded payroll for strawberry operations by that rate (payroll/100 x 2.453) to get the pure premium, then add loadings for frequency, company expenses, state assessments, and apply your experience modification, schedule credits or debits, and policy discounts. Final premiums vary with claim history, payroll accuracy, use of other classifications (e.g., licensed applicators), safety programs, and year‑end audits.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
California-specific requirements that commonly apply to strawberry operations include the Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention standard for outdoor workers, field sanitation and access to potable water and shade, and required training and notification provisions related to pesticide exposure under state DPR and worker protection rules. Employers must maintain OSHA 300 logs for recordable injuries, provide job‑specific safety training, and ensure authorized applicators hold the necessary DPR licenses when handling or applying restricted pesticides.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 0079
A PEO like Key HR helps strawberry producers by ensuring payroll is properly classified and split (harvest, packing, licensed applicators), implementing written heat‑illness and field sanitation programs, delivering targeted safety and pesticide‑awareness training, and managing claims and return‑to‑work plans to limit indemnity duration. We can also centralize OSHA recordkeeping, coordinate audits and provide loss control consulting to reduce frequency and lower your experience modification over time.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 0079 include pesticide applicators on my farm?
Not usually. Routine field work and harvesting belong in 0079, but licensed pesticide applicators and handlers are typically classified under separate pesticide or applicator codes. To avoid misclassification you should separate payroll for applicators and report it under the appropriate code; Key HR can audit payroll classification and assist with DPR licensing compliance.
How do seasonal or migrant workers affect my workers' comp premium?
Premium is calculated on actual payroll; seasonal spikes increase premium during high‑season and influence year‑end audits and experience modification. Using a PEO to smooth payroll reporting, ensure timely claims reporting and provide seasonal safety training can reduce audits, control losses and make premium more predictable.
What practical safety steps reduce claims in strawberry operations?
Implement a heat illness prevention plan, enforce frequent water/rest breaks and shade; provide ergonomic tools and training to reduce bending strain; require PPE and decontamination for pesticide exposure; maintain equipment guards and regular maintenance; and use a formal return‑to‑work program to shorten disability durations.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 0079
- Classification
- Strawberry Crops
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.453 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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