Class Code 4034
Concrete Products Mfg
Class Code 4034 covers manufacturing operations that produce pre-cast and formed concrete products in California. Typical facilities include plants making concrete block, pipe, paving stones, masonry units, decorative precast elements and similar products; the approved pure premium rate is $5.659 per $100 of payroll. Correct classification matters because it determines expected loss calculations and helps employers target the specific safety and compliance steps that reduce claims.
What Class Code 4034 Covers
This classification applies to permanent manufacturing operations where raw cement, aggregates and admixtures are proportioned, mixed, cast or extruded into finished concrete products and cured in controlled environments. Covered operations include batching, mold setup and stripping, vibrating and compacting, finishing, cutting, grinding, curing (steam or ambient), surface treatment, packaging, palletizing and loading for shipment. It also includes in-plant maintenance on production machinery, mold repair, QC sampling and testing, and material handling with forklifts or conveyors when performed inside the concrete products facility. It does not cover ready-mix delivery drivers or off-site construction installation of concrete products, which are assigned different class codes.
Who It Applies To
- Precast concrete manufacturers (blocks, pavers, curbs, pipes, architectural panels)
- Contractors running permanent in-plant production of concrete units
- Machine operators and mold setters working in casting and curing areas
- Maintenance mechanics who repair mixers, extruders, conveyor systems and molds
- Forklift operators, packers and shipping/receiving staff in the plant
Common Job Duties
- Operating batch plants and concrete mixers to proportion and mix raw materials
- Setting, lubricating and stripping molds or forms for casting concrete units
- Using vibrating tables, extruders, saws and grinders to form and finish products
- Monitoring and controlling curing cycles (steam rooms, curing racks) and quality testing
- Cutting, polishing, or surface-finishing concrete units and applying sealers
- Packaging, palletizing and staging products for shipment; operating forklifts
- Performing on-site mechanical maintenance, mold repair and equipment lubrication
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $5.659 Rate
The pure premium rate of $5.659 per $100 of payroll represents the WCIRB's estimated cost of future claims for workers in this classification. Insurers multiply that rate by an employer's payroll in hundreds of dollars to produce the base expected loss portion of premium; the final premium is then adjusted by experience modification, carrier expense loads, policy deductibles, schedule credits/penalties and any state assessments. Employer factors that alter the ultimate premium include actual payroll mix, OSHA and safety program performance, claims history, and correct assignment of employee duties to this class.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requires concrete product manufacturers to control airborne silica and cement dust through engineering controls (wet methods, local exhaust), exposure monitoring, and respiratory protection when controls cannot fully limit exposure. Employers must maintain hazard communication for cementitious materials, provide appropriate PPE (gloves, eye protection, respirators, hearing protection), implement machine guarding and lockout/tagout for maintenance, and keep medical surveillance where required. Written procedures and employee training tailored to wet cement handling, silica controls and powered equipment are essential for compliance.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 4034
A PEO like Key HR can help concrete products manufacturers reduce workers' comp costs by ensuring correct class code assignment, centralizing payroll reporting, and actively managing claims and return-to-work plans to limit indemnity exposure. Key HR can deploy site-specific loss-control services: safety audits, silica and respirable dust monitoring plans, written exposure-control programs, job-specific training, and access to preferred carriers and group programs that reward strong safety performance.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 4034 apply to ready-mix concrete drivers?
No. 4034 is for in-plant concrete products manufacturing (blocks, pipes, precast units). Ready-mix delivery drivers and mixer trucks are assigned to different class codes specific to mobile delivery operations.
What steps most reduce workers' comp claims for concrete product plants?
Key steps include controlling silica and dust with wet cutting and local exhaust, enforcing PPE and skin protection for wet concrete, machine guarding and lockout/tagout for presses and grinders, ergonomic aids or lift assists for palletizing, routine maintenance to prevent equipment failures, and formal return-to-work/transitional duty programs.
Are maintenance mechanics who work in the plant covered under 4034?
Yes, maintenance mechanics whose duties are primarily in-plant repairing production equipment and molds are typically included in 4034. If mechanics perform extensive off-site construction or third-party service work, a different classification may apply for those hours.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 4034
- Classification
- Concrete Products Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $5.659 / $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 4034?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.