Class Code 2840
Picture Frame Assembly; Picture Or Artwork Framing
Class Code 2840 covers picture frame assembly and artwork framing operations in California, including in-store and light production shop work. The WCIRB-approved pure premium for 9/1/2026 is $3.573 per $100 of payroll, which represents the expected loss cost for this low- to medium-hazard retail/manufacturing activity.
What Class Code 2840 Covers
This classification is specific to businesses that fabricate, assemble, mat, mount, finish, and package picture frames and framed artwork. It applies to small retail frame shops, studio frame production areas, and light manufacturing lines where employees cut matboard, mitre and join frame stock, install glazing (glass or acrylic), attach backing and hanging hardware, and prepare framed pieces for shipment. The class covers both manual and powered-tool operations performed indoors in a shop or retail environment; it excludes heavy carpentry or field installation work that involves construction trades. Piecework, finishing, and quality-control/inspection tasks in the framing process are also included under this code when performed as part of the production flow.
Who It Applies To
- Retail picture framing shops and art galleries with in-house framing
- Independent framing studios and custom frame manufacturers
- Employees who cut mats, assemble frames, and install glazing
- Production line assemblers in small-scale frame factories
- Packers who prepare framed art for shipping and storage
Common Job Duties
- Measuring and cutting matboard and backing materials
- Cutting and joining frame stock using mitre saws and joiners
- Cutting and installing glass or acrylic glazing and mirror components
- Applying adhesives, glues, and sealants; nailing, stapling, or crimping frames
- Mounting artwork, installing hanging hardware, and fitting mats
- Inspecting finished frames for fit/finish, labeling, and packaging for shipment
- Operating small powered equipment such as table saws, mitre saws, pneumatic staplers, and routers
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $3.573 Rate
The pure premium rate of $3.573 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB's estimate of expected losses for the classification and is used as the basis for premium calculation. Insurers apply this pure premium plus expense and profit loads and then adjust for an employer's experience modification, payroll, and any rating plans to produce the final premium an employer pays. Employers with lower claims frequency, strong return-to-work programs, accurate payroll reporting, and effective loss-control practices can see materially lower final premiums than the base pure premium implies.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements that most directly apply include proper machine guarding and lockout/tagout for powered saws and routers, hazard communication and SDS availability for adhesives and solvents, and respiratory protection or ventilation when dust or solvent fumes are present. Employers must provide appropriate PPE—cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses, and hearing protection—as well as training on tool safety, safe glass handling, and ergonomics to minimize repetitive motion injuries.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 2840
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in this classification by ensuring accurate payroll classification and handling workers' comp insurance placement and audits, which reduces costly misclassification. Key HR can implement targeted loss-control programs—tool safety procedures, glass-handling protocols, chemical safety training, and transitional duty programs—to reduce claim frequency and improve experience modification. We also provide centralized claims management, return-to-work coordination, and safety training resources tailored to picture framing operations.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does on-site installation and hanging of frames fall under Class Code 2840?
If the work is limited to carrying and hanging framed pieces inside a retail location, it is typically covered by 2840; however, larger field installations that involve ladders, scaffold work, structural modifications, or contractor-style installation are often classified under construction or installation codes, so employers should document the scope of work for accurate classification.
Are home-based or part-time framers included in this classification?
Yes—employees performing the same framing operations for an employer, even in a small or home-based shop, are generally classified to 2840. Independent contractors must be evaluated separately; consistent payroll reporting and written job descriptions help ensure correct classification during audits.
What practical steps reduce claims and lower my workers' comp cost for framing shops?
Prioritize controls that address your top hazards: provide cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses, guard and maintain powered saws, implement local exhaust/ventilation for dust and solvents, train workers on safe glass handling and ergonomic workstations, and establish a documented return-to-work program to reduce lost-time claims and improve your experience modification.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 2840
- Classification
- Picture Frame Assembly; Picture Or Artwork Framing
- Pure Premium Rate
- $3.573 / $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 2840?
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