Class Code 2116
Juice Or Juice Concentrate Mfg
Class Code 2116 applies to businesses that manufacture juice or juice concentrate. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for this class is $5.473 per $100 of payroll. Understanding the operations covered and the specific workplace hazards helps California employers control claims and maintain compliance.
What Class Code 2116 Covers
This class covers the commercial processing of fruit and vegetable juices and the production of juice concentrate, including receiving and sorting produce, washing, crushing/milling, pressing, pasteurization, evaporation to concentrate, filtration, aseptic packaging, bottling, labeling, and cold storage. It includes employees who operate evaporators, steam-heated equipment, pumps, conveyors, fillers and aseptic bottling lines, as well as workers who perform clean-in-place (CIP) sanitation, maintenance, and quality control. Tasks performed in support of production — forklift operators moving pallets of finished product, mechanics servicing tanks and pumps, and sanitation crews handling caustic and chlorine-based cleaners — are part of this classification. Activities performed at on-site fruit receiving yards or dock areas that are integral to juice manufacturing are also included when the work is for the manufacturing operation.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial juice processors and concentrate producers
- Bottling and aseptic packaging plants producing juice products
- Employees in pasteurization/evaporation and CIP/sanitation teams
- Plant maintenance mechanics and machine operators on production lines
- Forklift drivers and warehouse staff at juice manufacturing facilities
Common Job Duties
- Operating pasteurizers, evaporators and heat exchangers to produce concentrate
- Running and monitoring filler, capping and aseptic packaging lines
- Cleaning and sanitizing tanks and piping using CIP systems and chemical cleaners
- Receiving, sorting and preparing incoming fruit or concentrates for processing
- Performing preventive maintenance, repairs, and lockout/tagout on pumps and conveyors
- Material handling: palletizing, forklift operation and moving filled bottles or drums
- Quality testing and sampling in the lab (Brix, acidity, microbial checks)
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $5.473 Rate
The pure premium rate of $5.473 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB-approved charge that reflects expected claim costs for losses only; it does not include insurer expenses, profit, or adjustments. Insurers multiply that pure premium by an employer's payroll in this class to compute the baseline loss cost, then apply their own rates, experience modification, credits or debits, and policy-level adjustments to determine the final premium. Factors that affect the final premium include your company’s loss history (experience modification), class mix across payroll, state assessments, deductible choices, and insurer underwriting adjustments.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA General Industry standards apply throughout juice and concentrate plants: employers must implement machine guarding, control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), hazard communication (GHS labeling and SDS access), and provide PPE for chemical and heat exposures. Permit-required confined space procedures are required for tank or vessel entry, and respiratory protection programs are necessary where fumigants or chlorine gas risk exist. In addition to Cal/OSHA rules, plants typically coordinate safety with food-safety programs (e.g., HACCP and FDA requirements) that impact sanitation and handling procedures.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 2116
A PEO like Key HR centralizes payroll classification, ensures accurate reporting for Class Code 2116, and helps control workers' comp costs through proactive loss control services, tailored safety training (lockout/tagout, LOTO, CIP chemical handling, forklift and machine guarding), and managed claims handling. We also help implement return-to-work programs and ergonomic solutions to reduce lost time and improve employee retention at juice manufacturing facilities.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 2116 include both juice and concentrate production?
Yes. WCIRB Class Code 2116 covers manufacturing operations that produce liquid juice and concentrated juice products, including processing steps like pasteurization and evaporation.
How can my plant lower its workers’ comp costs under this class code?
Focus on engineering controls and machine guarding, formal lockout/tagout and confined-space programs, rigorous chemical handling training for CIP crews, forklift and ergonomics programs, and early return-to-work policies. Accurate payroll classification and timely claims management through a PEO also reduce premium.
Are sanitation crews and maintenance mechanics included in this classification?
Yes. Employees whose work is integral to juice or concentrate manufacturing—such as CIP sanitation teams and mechanics who service processing equipment—are typically assigned to Class Code 2116 when their duties are performed for the manufacturing operation.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 2116
- Classification
- Juice Or Juice Concentrate Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $5.473 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 2116?
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