Class Code 3682
Instrument Mfg – Non-Electronic
Class Code 3682 covers manufacturing of non‑electronic instruments — precision mechanical, optical and measuring devices — and the shop workers who make, finish and test them. For California employers this classification matters because it reflects exposures like machine operations, grinding and calibration and uses the 2026 pure premium rate of $1.161 per $100 of payroll to set baseline workers' comp cost.
What Class Code 3682 Covers
This class applies to operations that fabricate, assemble, finish, test and package instruments that do not contain electronic circuitry. Typical products include mechanical gauges, optical instruments (lenses, microscopes, scopes), precision measuring tools, mechanical timing devices, laboratory glassware handling related to non‑electronic instruments, and non‑electronic surgical or dental hand instruments. Activities include metalworking (turning, milling, grinding), precision fitting and assembly of small parts, surface finishing and polishing, calibration and mechanical testing, and packaging for shipment. It excludes electronic assembly, printed circuit board work, and businesses whose primary work is electrical or electronic manufacturing. Worksite settings range from small precision shops to larger contract manufacturers with dedicated machining, assembly and QC lines.
Who It Applies To
- Precision gauge and scale manufacturers
- Optical instrument makers (lenses, microscopes, scopes)
- Small machine shops producing mechanical measuring tools
- Manufacturers of non‑electronic medical and laboratory instruments
- Toolmakers, machinists, assemblers, and calibration technicians
Common Job Duties
- Operating lathes, mills, grinders and drill presses to shape metal parts
- Precision assembly and mechanical fitting of gears, bearings, and housings
- Surface finishing, polishing, deburring and inspection of components
- Mechanical calibration and dimensional testing using gauges and micrometers
- Maintaining and setting jigs, fixtures and tooling
- Packaging, labeling and preparing finished instruments for shipment
- Routine maintenance and adjustment of machine tools
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $1.161 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $1.161 per $100 of payroll is the baseline dollar amount insurers use to estimate expected loss costs for Class 3682. To calculate base premium, multiply an employer's payroll in this class by the rate (payroll/100 × 1.161). The final premium an employer pays will be adjusted for experience modification (loss history), insurer expense and profit provisions, policy discounts or credits, state assessments, and any PEO or group rating arrangements.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA rules most relevant to instrument manufacturing include machine guarding and point‑of‑operation protections, control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), personal protective equipment for eyes, face and hearing, and ventilation for dust and metalworking fluids. California employers must also maintain an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), provide hazard communication for cleaning agents and lubricants, and implement training on tool safety and ergonomic practices to reduce repetitive motion injuries.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 3682
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in Class 3682 by ensuring proper payroll classification, administering claims, and partnering on loss control programs tailored to machining and assembly hazards. We provide safety training, return‑to‑work coordination, and data‑driven recommendations to improve experience modification and reduce premium. Key HR also handles regulatory support for Cal/OSHA compliance and can bundle benefits and workers' comp to provide stable pricing for small to mid‑sized precision manufacturers.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class 3682 include shops that do both electronic and non‑electronic instrument work?
If a shop performs both, payroll must be split by the actual work performed. Time spent on non‑electronic instrument manufacturing belongs in 3682; electronic assembly or PCB work should be coded to the appropriate electronic manufacturing class.
How can I reduce workers' comp costs for non‑electronic instrument manufacturing?
Focus on machine guarding, lockout/tagout, PPE, dust control and targeted ergonomics for assembly tasks. Prompt claim reporting, active return‑to‑work programs and safety training reduce lost time and lower your experience modification over time.
Are calibration and testing operations included in this class?
Yes. Mechanical calibration, dimensional inspection and functional testing of non‑electronic instruments performed as part of manufacturing are typically included in Class 3682, provided the operations do not involve electronic components.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 3682
- Classification
- Instrument Mfg – Non-Electronic
- Pure Premium Rate
- $1.161 / $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 3682?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.