Class Code 3647
Battery Mfg; Lead, Reclaiming Or Alloying
Class code 3647 covers battery manufacturing operations where lead is melted, reclaimed, or alloyed — work with high potential for lead exposure and molten-metal hazards. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for California is $6.412 per $100 of payroll, a key factor when budgeting workers' comp costs for these operations.
What Class Code 3647 Covers
This classification specifically applies to facilities that process lead for battery production or recycling: melting scrap lead, refining reclaimed lead, producing lead alloys (for example with antimony, tin, or calcium), casting ingots or battery grids, and related lab sampling and quality control. It includes primary operations where lead is heated, smelted or otherwise handled in forms that generate dust, fume or molten metal. Many employers with both alloying/reclaiming and final battery assembly will allocate payroll between this class and other battery assembly codes; only payroll directly tied to lead reclaiming or alloying should be assigned to 3647. Routine activities such as maintenance of furnaces, crucibles, and ventilation systems that directly support lead processing are in-scope. Administrative tasks removed from direct exposure (office, shipping clerks not handling lead) are typically excluded.
Who It Applies To
- Secondary lead smelters and recyclers reclaiming lead from scrap batteries
- Battery component manufacturers alloying and casting lead grids or ingots
- Foundry operators and furnace technicians handling molten lead
- Laboratory and quality-control technicians sampling and assaying lead
- Maintenance mechanics and electricians servicing lead-processing equipment
Common Job Duties
- Charging and operating lead melting furnaces and reverberatory furnaces
- Alloying lead with antimony, tin, calcium or other additives and casting ingots or grids
- Crushing, screening, and separating scrap feedstock prior to smelting
- Collecting air and bulk samples for lead content testing and assaying
- Operating crucible pouring, casting, and cooling lines and trimming castings
- Routine maintenance of ventilation, dust collection, and furnace refractory systems
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $6.412 Rate
The pure premium rate of $6.412 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of future workers' compensation claims for payroll assigned to Class 3647 before insurer adjustments. Insurers use that pure premium as a base and then apply your experience modification, carrier-specific loss cost multipliers, policy-level credits/debits, and any deductibles or retrospective adjustments to calculate your final premium. Factors that commonly change the premium include claim history (mod factor), accuracy of payroll classification, safety controls, and participation in loss prevention programs.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements critical to Class 3647 include the Lead standard (Title 8 §5198) which mandates exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, hygiene facilities and change areas, and worker training when airborne lead exceeds action levels. Employers must implement engineering controls and local exhaust ventilation, maintain a written respiratory protection program compliant with Title 8 §5144, and meet Hazard Communication requirements (Title 8 §5194) for all lead-containing materials. Proper housekeeping to control lead dust and documented medical and biological monitoring are essential to compliance and to reducing compensable illnesses.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 3647
A PEO like Key HR can help employers in this high-risk classification by ensuring proper job classification and payroll allocation, coordinating Cal/OSHA-compliant medical surveillance and respirator programs, and implementing targeted safety programs (ventilation audits, lead housekeeping, training). Key HR also centralizes claims handling and return-to-work planning to shorten claim duration, and works with insurers on experience-mod and loss-control credits that can lower overall workers' comp cost.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class 3647 include battery recycling operations that crush and separate lead-bearing material?
Yes — recycling activities that reclaim lead from spent batteries, including crushing, smelting, refining and alloying, are generally assigned to Class 3647. Non-lead tasks at the same site should be separately classified and reported.
What specific employer controls most reduce workers' comp claims for lead processing?
Engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation, enclosed processes), rigorous housekeeping to control dust, a written respiratory protection program, routine airborne lead monitoring, and documented medical surveillance are the most effective measures to reduce lead-related illnesses and claims.
How can I lower my workers' comp premium for a lead-alloying battery plant?
Improve loss history through strong return-to-work programs, invest in engineering controls and documented training to qualify for insurer loss-control credits, ensure accurate payroll classification, and work with a PEO or broker to pursue experience-mod management and potential retrospective rating plans.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 3647
- Classification
- Battery Mfg; Lead, Reclaiming Or Alloying
- Pure Premium Rate
- $6.412 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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