Class Code 3110
Forging Works; Blacksmithing
Class code 3110 covers forging works and blacksmithing operations — shops that heat, hammer, press and finish ferrous and non-ferrous metal stock. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate is $6.180 per $100 of payroll, a baseline insurers use to price policies for these higher-risk metal‑forming activities.
What Class Code 3110 Covers
This classification applies to businesses that shape metal by heating and mechanically deforming it: open-die and closed-die forging, drop-hammer and power-hammer operations, press forging, upsetting, hand-forging by blacksmiths, and associated grinding and finishing of forged pieces. It includes use of coal, gas or electric furnaces and induction heaters to bring steel, iron, bronze and other alloys to forging temperature, plus use of anvils, tongs, dies, presses, hammers and allied tooling. The code covers both industrial production shops making parts and smaller artisan blacksmith shops doing custom or restoration work, as well as equipment maintenance and tooling setup activities directly tied to forging operations. Foundry casting of molten metal is not the primary activity for 3110; pouring molten metal belongs to foundry classifications, whereas 3110 focuses on hot working and mechanical deformation of solid metal stock.
Who It Applies To
- Industrial forging shops (open-die and closed-die) producing parts for automotive, aerospace, and heavy equipment
- Artisan and restoration blacksmith shops doing hand forging, ornamental ironwork, and custom tools
- Drop-hammer and power-hammer operators and press-forging crews
- Employees who operate or maintain induction, gas, or electric forging furnaces
- Grinders, polishers, and finishers working on forged parts in the same shop
- Tooling, die setters, and maintenance technicians servicing forging presses and hammers
Common Job Duties
- Heating metal billets, bars, or blanks to forging temperature in gas, coal, or induction furnaces
- Operating power hammers, drop hammers, hydraulic or mechanical forging presses and upsetters
- Hand forging with hammers, anvils, tongs and chisels for shaping and trimming
- Grinding, dressing, shot‑blasting and finishing forged surfaces and removing scale
- Positioning, lifting and moving heavy workpieces and dies using hoists, cranes and slings
- Setting and aligning dies, tooling changeover, and performing preventive maintenance on presses
- Inspecting dimensions and heat-treatment results, measuring hardness and straightness
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $6.180 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $6.180 per $100 of payroll is the insurer's estimated cost for expected claim payments and loss adjustment for this class before expense loadings and modifiers. Insurers multiply this base rate by an employer's reported payroll (in $100s) to get the pure premium; the final premium is then adjusted by the employer's experience modification, policy expenses, schedule ratings, group discounts and any deductible or retrospective rating programs. Factors that change the premium include actual claim frequency/severity (experience mod), payroll misclassification, safety programs, and participation in group rating or loss‑control programs.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requires employers engaged in forging and blacksmithing to implement machine guarding, lockout/tagout for press and hammer maintenance, appropriate ventilation for fumes and grinding dust, and hearing conservation where noise exceeds limits. Employers must also provide heat illness prevention where workers are exposed to high temperatures, hazard communication for metal and chemical exposures, respiratory protection programs when engineering controls are insufficient, and training on hot work, PPE and emergency first aid for burns.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 3110
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in class code 3110 by ensuring accurate classification and payroll reporting, implementing targeted loss‑control plans (machine guarding audits, fume capture, heat‑stress protocols), and managing claims and return‑to‑work to reduce experience modification. Key HR can also coordinate training, respiratory and hearing programs, OSHA recordkeeping, and access to group rating or large-account pricing to help lower workers' comp costs for forging operations.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my shop should be coded 3110 or a different class?
Use 3110 when your primary operation is heating and mechanically deforming solid metal (open- or closed-die forging, power hammers, presses, and blacksmith hand forging). Foundry pouring of molten metal, stamping, or primarily machining work may fall into other class codes. Accurate job descriptions and payroll splits by operation are essential; a PEO or broker can review operations and payroll to assign the correct code.
What are the most effective controls to reduce claims in forging shops?
Prioritize engineering controls: proper machine guarding, automatic die shields, secure hoisting and rigging, local exhaust ventilation at furnaces and grinding stations, and anti-vibration tools. Combine those with administrative controls—hot work permits, confined space procedures, heat‑illness plans, training on safe forging techniques—and consistent PPE use (heat‑resistant gloves, face shields, respirators and hearing protection).
Can a strong safety program actually lower my workers' comp premium for class 3110?
Yes. A documented safety program that reduces frequency and severity of claims will lower your experience modification over time, which directly reduces premium. Additional levers include participating in group rating, using Return‑to‑Work programs to limit indemnity costs, and working with a PEO like Key HR to implement targeted loss control and claims management.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 3110
- Classification
- Forging Works; Blacksmithing
- Pure Premium Rate
- $6.180 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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