Class Code 3152
Nail/Tack/Rivet Mfg; Nut/Bolt/Screw Mfg; Screw Machine Products Mfg
Class Code 3152 covers California employers who manufacture nails, tacks, rivets, nuts, bolts, screws and related screw‑machine products. The WCIRB pure premium rate for this class is $3.825 per $100 of payroll (effective Sept 1, 2026), which directly affects workers' comp costs for shops that run automatic headers, screw machines, threading operations and related processes.
What Class Code 3152 Covers
This classification applies to shops and factories that convert wire or bar stock into fasteners and small turned parts using automatic heading machines, screw machines (including CNC and bar-fed machines), thread rolling or cutting, tapping, slotting, tumbling/finishing, heat treating and final packaging. It also includes secondary operations commonly performed in the same facility such as grinding, polishing, inspection, and light assembly of those screw‑machine products. Operations that are primarily assembly of other manufacturers' fasteners into a finished product are often classified differently; 3152 is for businesses whose primary product is the manufacture of fasteners, nuts, bolts, screws, tacks or rivets. Shops that operate plating or chemical finishing lines for their fasteners should disclose those processes because they can introduce additional hazards and may lead to multiple classifications or endorsements.
Who It Applies To
- Independent fastener manufacturers (nails, tacks, rivets)
- Nut, bolt and screw manufacturing plants
- Precision screw‑machine shops and bar‑fed CNC turning shops
- Contract manufacturers producing small turned parts and fasteners
- Machine operators, toolroom mechanics and production maintenance staff
- Quality inspectors and packaging/fulfillment crews in fastener plants
Common Job Duties
- Setting up, operating, and monitoring automatic headers and coil‑feed cold‑forming machines
- Running screw machines and CNC lathes that cut, form, thread, and part bar stock
- Thread rolling, tapping, slotting, deburring, tumbling and polishing of fasteners
- Heat‑treating, quenching, tempering and subsequent finishing steps
- Electroplating or passivation (when performed in‑house) and handling plating chemicals
- Routine tooling changeovers, machine maintenance, lubrication and inspection
- Final inspection, counting, packaging and palletizing of finished fasteners
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $3.825 Rate
The pure premium rate of $3.825 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB's calculated cost of expected claims for this class. Insurers use that rate to compute a base premium (payroll/100 × rate) and then apply the employer's experience modification, schedule rating, deductible or retrospective adjustments, and insurer expense loads — so the final premium can be higher or lower than the pure premium alone.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements commonly applicable to 3152 operations include machine guarding and point‑of‑operation protection, control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) during maintenance, a written hearing conservation program where noise exposures exceed limits, and a respiratory protection program if airborne contaminants from cutting fluids or plating are present. Employers must also maintain hazard communication for metalworking fluids and plating chemicals, perform regular safety training, and keep injury and illness records per Cal/OSHA rules.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 3152
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in this classification tighten cost control by ensuring accurate payroll classification and timely reporting, coordinating experienced claims management and return‑to‑work programs, and delivering targeted loss‑control services (machine‑guard audits, LOTO procedures, hearing and respirator program setup). Bundling these services through a PEO reduces administrative burden, speeds claim resolution and lowers experience modification factors that drive premium.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does 3152 include shops that only assemble products using purchased screws?
Not usually. 3152 specifically covers manufacturers of fasteners and screw‑machine products. If a business primarily assembles other manufacturers' screws into a finished product, it may be classified differently based on the primary operation — disclose the work mix to your insurer or PEO for correct classification.
How do plating, heat treating or outsourced finishing affect coverage and rate?
Plating and heat‑treating introduce chemical, fume and thermal hazards that can alter risk exposure. If those processes are performed in‑house, carriers may add separate class codes, endorsements, or higher premiums; they also expect documented controls like ventilation, PPE, and chemical programs.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp costs for a fastener shop?
Focus on machine guarding and LOTO compliance, regular preventive maintenance, hearing and respiratory programs, toolbox talks on safe handling of sharp parts, early return‑to‑work transitional duties, and rigorous claims reporting. Working with a PEO for consistent safety programs and proactive claims management accelerates improvements to your experience modifier and overall premium.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 3152
- Classification
- Nail/Tack/Rivet Mfg; Nut/Bolt/Screw Mfg; Screw Machine Products Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $3.825 / $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 3152?
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