Class Code 1463
Asphalt Works; Briquette Mfg; Coke Mfg
Class Code 1463 covers businesses that manufacture or process asphalt, produce briquettes, and manufacture coke — operations with heat, fumes, and heavy materials. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for this classification is $3.425 per $100 of payroll. Understanding the specific tasks and hazards tied to this code helps California employers control claims and maintain Cal/OSHA compliance.
What Class Code 1463 Covers
This classification is intended for fixed and mobile operations that produce or process asphalt (refining, distillation, blending, storage and handling of asphalt and tar products), manufacture fuel or metallurgical briquettes, and produce coke from coal or similar feedstocks. Typical workplaces include asphalt plants, refinery blending terminals, briquette pressing and curing rooms, and coke ovens or battery operations. It covers personnel who operate kettles, distillation units, mixers, crushers, conveyors, furnaces, curing kilns, and storage tanks, plus workers who sample, test, package and load finished product. Routine maintenance and cleaning of processing equipment, handling hot materials and waste by-products, and on-site laboratory testing are also included when performed by employees of the covered employer.
Who It Applies To
- Asphalt refinery and blending plant operators and laborers
- Workers at asphalt emulsion and cutback asphalt plants
- Briquette manufacturing line operators and kiln/cure technicians
- Coke oven operators, quenching crews, and plant maintenance technicians
- Bulk loading/unloading teams for asphalt and coke products
Common Job Duties
- Operating asphalt kettles, distillation columns, and storage tanks
- Feeding coal/char into coke ovens and operating quench systems
- Running briquette presses, conveyors, dryers and curing ovens
- Handling, sampling and packaging hot or semi-solid product
- Cleaning and maintaining furnaces, burners, filters and conveyor belts
- Monitoring process temperatures, vents and emission control systems
- Loading/unloading bulk trucks and railcars containing hot materials
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $3.425 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $3.425 per $100 of payroll is the baseline amount insurers use to set workers' compensation premiums before loading for expenses and credits. To estimate premium multiply taxable payroll by 0.03425; the final premium also depends on an employer's experience modification, insurer expense and profit factors, policy deductibles, and classification audit accuracy. Properly allocating payroll to the correct class code and controlling claim frequency/severity are key levers to lower effective cost.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements commonly applicable to these operations include Title 8 rules on airborne contaminants and permissible exposure limits (Section 5155), respiratory protection programs (Section 5144), Hazard Communication (Section 5194), Confined Space in General Industry (Section 5157) for tank and vessel entries, and Heat Illness Prevention (Section 3395) for outdoor and near‑oven work. Employers should also implement lockout/tagout procedures for equipment servicing, hot work permits, local exhaust ventilation for fume sources, exposure monitoring, and written respiratory and hazard communication programs.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 1463
A PEO like Key HR can centralize workers' compensation administration, ensure payroll is correctly classified and audited, and provide safety program implementation tailored to asphalt, briquette and coke operations. Key HR can help negotiate premiums with carriers, deliver written Cal/OSHA-compliant programs (respiratory, confined space, heat illness), coordinate medical management for claims, and run training and recordkeeping to reduce injuries and lower experience modification factors.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 1463 apply to paving crews that lay asphalt on roads?
Not automatically. Class Code 1463 is focused on manufacturing and processing of asphalt and coke. Road paving crews who perform hot mix paving and paving operations are often classified under different paving or surfacing codes. Confirm classification with your insurer or the WCIRB based on the primary operations and where payroll is incurred.
What specific controls reduce injury and workers' comp claims for these plants?
Effective controls include engineering controls (local exhaust and fume collection, enclosed transfer systems, automated material handling), administrative controls (hot work permits, scheduled maintenance windows, heat illness plans), a documented respiratory protection and medical surveillance program, and PPE (heat‑resistant gloves, face shields, flame‑retardant clothing). Regular preventive maintenance and confined‑space entry procedures cut both injury frequency and claim severity.
How does payroll reporting and classification affect my premium under a PEO?
Accurate payroll allocation to Class Code 1463 versus other codes prevents overpaying or underpaying premiums and avoids audit adjustments. Under a PEO, payroll is typically reported centrally and audited; Key HR helps ensure workers are assigned to the proper class based on duties and location, which stabilizes premium calculation and experience modification outcomes.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 1463
- Classification
- Asphalt Works; Briquette Mfg; Coke Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $3.425 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 1463?
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