Class Code 3180
Light Fixture Or Lamp Mfg Or Assembly
Class Code 3180 covers the manufacturing and assembly of light fixtures and lamps — from wiring and ballast/driver installation to lens fitting and final testing. The approved pure premium rate for California effective Sept 1, 2026 is $4.669 per $100 of payroll, a baseline used to estimate expected claims costs for employers in this work.
What Class Code 3180 Covers
This classification applies to businesses that manufacture or assemble complete lighting fixtures or lamp/bulb assemblies, including commercial, industrial, decorative and LED fixtures. Work under 3180 includes bench assembly of metal or plastic housings, electrical wiring and connection of drivers/ballasts, soldering or crimping of leads, installation of sockets, lenses or diffusers, functional testing, and packaging. It covers contract assemblers and in-house production lines where employees routinely handle electrical components, light sources, reflectors, and small mechanical parts. Operations that include heavy sheet metal fabrication, large-scale welding, or extensive electrical panel work may require a different class code; 3180 is focused on the manufacturing/assembly tasks typical to light fixtures and lamps.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial and architectural lighting manufacturers
- LED module and driver assemblers
- Contract electronics assemblers producing lighting fixtures
- Small-batch or artisan light fixture shops doing assembly and wiring
- Lamp/bulb assembly plants and test/inspection technicians
Common Job Duties
- Assembling housings, reflectors, sockets, lenses, and trim
- Electrical wiring, crimping, soldering of leads and component wiring
- Installing ballasts, LED drivers, transformers and sockets
- Functional testing with meters, test benches and burn-in stations
- Glass or plastic lens handling, fitting, and minor finishing
- Packaging, labeling and preparing finished fixtures for shipment
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $4.669 Rate
The pure premium rate of $4.669 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of workers' compensation losses for this class before insurer expense and profit loads. To estimate premium, multiply your payroll for employees in class 3180 by 0.04669 (rate/100); insurers will then add claim adjustment costs, state assessments, administrative expenses, and any credits or debits. Final premiums are affected by your payroll accuracy, experience modification (loss history), deductible programs, classification audits, and any risk-control or safety credits.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Employers in lighting manufacturing must follow Cal/OSHA requirements such as maintaining an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), hazard communication for chemicals and fluxes, electrical safety and lockout/tagout during equipment servicing, machine guarding on powered assembly equipment, and adequate ventilation for soldering and solvent use. Training, documented exposure controls, personal protective equipment, and written procedures for testing live circuits and handling glass are commonly cited inspection focuses.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 3180
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in class 3180 by ensuring correct classification and payroll reporting, providing loss-control consultations specific to electrical assembly and soldering operations, and delivering targeted safety training and written programs that Cal/OSHA requires. Key HR also manages claims and return-to-work programs to shorten indemnity exposures and can leverage purchasing and underwriting relationships to control premium and administrative costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 3180 apply if we only do final assembly and testing?
Yes — final assembly and testing of light fixtures and lamps is the core of 3180. If your operation is limited to wiring, installing drivers/ballasts, lens fitting and functional testing without heavy fabrication, 3180 is normally appropriate.
Are lamp repair or field-service activities covered by 3180?
Repair or field-service work is evaluated case-by-case. Occasional warranty repairs in the factory are often retained in 3180, but a business whose primary activity is on-site repair, electrical servicing, or installation may be coded differently. Ask Key HR for a classification review for mixed operations.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp costs for lighting assemblers?
Implementing an IIPP, machine guarding, local exhaust for soldering fumes, lockout/tagout, electrical safety training, and a formal return-to-work program can reduce claim frequency and severity. Accurate job classification and timely claims handling through a PEO also lower premium through improved experience modification and fewer lost-time claims.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 3180
- Classification
- Light Fixture Or Lamp Mfg Or Assembly
- Pure Premium Rate
- $4.669 / $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 3180?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.