Class Code 2589
Dry Cleaning Or Laundry
Class Code 2589 covers workers in dry cleaning and commercial laundry operations across California, from small retail cleaners to large plant laundries. The WCIRB-approved pure premium for Sept 1, 2026 is $4.900 per $100 of payroll. Understanding the specific tasks, chemical and machine hazards, and applicable Cal/OSHA requirements helps control exposures and workers' comp costs.
What Class Code 2589 Covers
This classification applies to establishments that process garments and textiles by solvent-based dry cleaning, hydrocarbon/alternative solvent cleaning, or commercial wet laundering (washer-extractors, tunnel washers, and finishing lines). It includes on-site finishing operations such as pressing, steaming, ironing, hand-finishing, folding and packaging, plus distillation and solvent recovery systems, boiler/steam plant work tied to laundry operations, and in-shop pickup/delivery services. Work involving handling, storage, transfer, and disposal of solvents, spotting chemicals, and detergent concentrates is included, as are routine maintenance tasks on washers, presses, and solvent equipment. The class covers both small storefront dry cleaners and larger linen rental plants, but equipment scale and whether drivers are separately classified can affect assignment.
Who It Applies To
- Independent retail dry cleaning shops (counter attendants, spotters, pressers)
- Commercial laundry and linen rental plants (wash/finishing floor employees)
- Hotel or healthcare contract laundries and textile service plants
- Pickup and delivery route workers employed by the cleaning company
- Maintenance personnel who service washers, presses, boilers, and solvent distillation units
Common Job Duties
- Operating dry-cleaning machines and solvent recovery/distillation equipment
- Loading and unloading washers, extractors, dryers, and tunnel systems
- Pressing, steaming, ironing, hand-finishing and garment pressing operations
- Spot-cleaning garments using solvents and stain-removal chemicals
- Routine machine maintenance, cleaning lint traps and servicing boilers/steam lines
- Handling packaging, folding, sorting, and customer counter transactions
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $4.900 Rate
The approved pure premium of $4.900 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB’s base cost for expected claim losses for this exposure level. Insurers start with the pure premium to calculate your manual premium, then adjust it with your experience modification, policy adjustments (schedule credits/debits), state expense loads, and any deductible or retrospective programs to arrive at the final premium. Final cost is driven by payroll mix, claims history, safety controls (engineering controls and PPE), and whether higher-risk solvents like PERC are used.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requires employers in dry cleaning and laundry operations to maintain written Hazard Communication programs, provide training on chemical hazards and Safety Data Sheets, and control employee exposures to solvent vapors within permissible exposure limits. Employers must implement machine guarding, lockout/tagout for equipment servicing, respiratory protection programs when PELs may be exceeded, and effective housekeeping to reduce lint- and solvent-related fire risks; heat illness prevention and confined-space procedures may also apply where boilers or solvent tanks are serviced.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 2589
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in this class reduce workers' comp costs through centralized claims management, return-to-work programs, and targeted loss-prevention consulting (HazCom, PPE, machine guarding, and solvent-handling controls). We provide training, safety program templates, payroll accuracy for correct classification reporting, and access to group purchasing and carrier relationships that can lower premiums and improve claim outcomes.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are delivery drivers for a dry cleaner covered under class code 2589?
Delivery drivers employed directly by the shop are often included under the business’s policy, but carriers sometimes assign vehicle-driving duties to a separate motor vehicle or driver classification. Confirm with your insurer or PEO to ensure drivers are coded correctly and that commercial auto coverage is in place.
How can a dry cleaner or laundry lower workers' comp premiums?
Focus on engineering controls (closed-loop solvent systems, local exhaust ventilation), substitute lower-toxicity cleaning methods (wet-cleaning or hydrocarbon systems), robust PPE and HazCom training, machine guarding and LOTO programs, housekeeping to control lint and spills, and a formal return-to-work plan to reduce claim severity and improve your experience modification.
Does using perchloroethylene (PERC) change compliance or insurance risk?
Yes. PERC increases regulatory scrutiny and exposure risk; employers must control PERC vapors, provide monitoring and respiratory protection as required, and follow state environmental rules for PERC use and disposal. Insurers view PERC operations as higher risk, which can affect underwriting and premium, so switching to alternative processes or demonstrating strong controls can mitigate that impact.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 2589
- Classification
- Dry Cleaning Or Laundry
- Pure Premium Rate
- $4.900 / $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 2589?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.