Class Code 2142
Wineries; Distilling; Vinegar Mfg
Class Code 2142 applies to California operations that produce wine, distilled spirits, and vinegar. The approved pure premium rate is $2.751 per $100 of payroll — an important baseline for estimating workers' comp costs for cellar, distillation and bottling operations.
What Class Code 2142 Covers
This classification covers on-site production activities at wineries, craft and commercial distilleries, and vinegar manufacturing plants. Included are grape receiving, crushing and pressing; fermentation management; distillation and still operation; acetification for vinegar; racking, filtering and clarifying; barreling and aging; bottling, labeling and packaging; and related lab, maintenance and sanitation work. It also encompasses tasting-room service tied directly to production facilities, forklift and equipment operation used to move barrels and pallets, and wastewater/pomace handling. Office-only functions remote from production are not the primary exposure under this class.
Who It Applies To
- Family-owned and commercial wineries (cellar hands, winemakers, cellar managers)
- Craft and industrial distilleries (still operators, mash technicians)
- Vinegar manufacturing plants (acetification operators, blending staff)
- Bottling and packaging crews and line operators
- Maintenance, sanitation and quality-control lab technicians
- Forklift drivers and warehouse/pallet handlers supporting production
Common Job Duties
- Receiving and sorting grapes or raw materials, operating crushers and presses
- Monitoring and managing fermentation tanks, gravity transfers and racking
- Operating stills, condensers and boilers for distillation and controlling heat sources
- Cleaning and sanitizing tanks and lines with caustics, acids and hot water
- Bottling, labeling, palletizing and operating filler/capper machinery
- Moving barrels and pallets with forklifts and manually handling heavy barrels
- Routine equipment maintenance, CIP (clean-in-place) procedures and lab testing
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.751 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.751 per $100 of payroll represents the base expected cost of claims for this classification. Insurers start with the pure premium multiplied by your payroll to get a pure premium dollar amount, then add underwriting loads, state assessments and apply your experience modification and any schedule credits to determine the final premium. Final cost is affected by your claims history, payroll mix (office vs. production), safety programs, classification accuracy and any loss-prevention measures.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Employers in this class must implement a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and comply with Cal/OSHA safety orders for hazardous materials, hazard communication and respiratory protection when working with SO2, acids or solvents. Permit-required confined-space procedures are essential for tank entry and fermentation vessels, and forklifts and powered industrial truck use require certified operator training. During harvest and outdoor work, employers must also follow Cal/OSHA heat illness prevention rules and maintain fire suppression and safe storage for flammable liquids used in distillation.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 2142
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in Class 2142 by ensuring correct payroll classification, administering workers' comp claims and coordinating return-to-work programs to limit lost-time exposures. We provide safety program templates, regular loss-control audits, employee training (confined-space entry, HazCom, forklift), and aggregate purchasing power for better insurance placement — all of which help control frequency and severity of claims and reduce overall workers' comp costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are tasting-room servers covered under Class Code 2142?
Tasting-room employees who directly support production-site operations (serving samples on-site, cellar tours) are typically included in Class 2142; purely retail or office staff located away from production may be assigned a different, lower-exposure class.
How does fermentation CO2 affect workplace safety and comp risk?
Fermentation produces CO2 that can displace oxygen in tanks, cellars and confined spaces leading to asphyxiation hazards. Employers must monitor gas levels, ventilate, post warnings and follow confined-space entry procedures to reduce the risk of serious injury claims.
What practical steps reduce my workers' comp premium for a winery or distillery?
Maintain accurate payroll classification, implement an IIPP, provide HazCom and confined-space training, establish a light-duty return-to-work program, perform regular equipment maintenance, and document safety audits. These actions improve your experience modification and can lead to lower premiums.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 2142
- Classification
- Wineries; Distilling; Vinegar Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.751 / $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 2142?
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