Class Code 4049
Pottery Products Mfg
Class code 4049 applies to businesses that manufacture pottery and ceramic products in California. It covers production operations such as forming, glazing and firing; the approved pure premium rate for Sept 1, 2026 is $4.078 per $100 of payroll, which helps determine workers' comp costs for these employers.
What Class Code 4049 Covers
This classification is specific to fabrication and finishing of pottery and ceramic products — including shaping clay, slip casting, pressing, trimming, drying, glazing, kiln-firing and packaging finished wares. It covers operations in both small studios that employ production staff and larger factories that make tableware, art pottery, tiles, sanitary ware or technical ceramics. Activities tied to mold making, plaster mold repair, mixing glazes and loading/unloading kilns are included when performed by employees on the employer payroll. Retail-only ceramic studios where staff only sell finished goods but do not perform manufacturing typically would not use this code for the retail payroll portion.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial pottery and ceramic factories (tableware, tile, sanitary ware)
- Art pottery manufacturers and studio shops with production employees
- Ceramic slip-casting and mold-making operations
- Glaze mixing and kiln-firing specialists and kiln operators
- Packaging and final-inspection workers in ceramic plants
Common Job Duties
- Mixing and applying glazes, managing glaze chemistry and inventories
- Shaping and forming clay by throwing, pressing, casting or molding
- Trimming, sanding and finishing greenware and bisque ware
- Loading, unloading and operating kilns at high temperatures
- Repairing and maintaining plaster molds and production tooling
- Packaging, palletizing and preparing finished pottery for shipment
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $4.078 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $4.078 per $100 of payroll is the base cost for expected claim payments for employees in this class. Insurers apply this pure premium to an employer's payroll for this class to calculate base premium, and then adjust it by the employer's experience modification, insurer expense loadings, policy fees and state assessments — so the final premium can be higher or lower depending on claims history, payroll mix and safety controls.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements most relevant to pottery manufacturing include the respirable crystalline silica standard (controls, exposure assessment and respiratory protection), the Hazard Communication standard for glazes and chemicals (SDSs and labeling), machine guarding and lockout/tagout for mixing and press equipment, and ventilation/containment for kiln rooms and dust-producing operations. Employers must also maintain training, medical surveillance when exposure limits are exceeded, and injury/illness recordkeeping per California rules.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 4049
A PEO like Key HR can help employers in class code 4049 by ensuring correct payroll classification, delivering targeted safety programs (silica control, kiln safety, HazCom), and managing claims and return-to-work plans to reduce losses. Key HR also provides loss-control consulting, mandatory training, OSHA/Cal/OSHA recordkeeping assistance and access to competitive workers' comp placements that can lower overall cost.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Do studio potters who sell directly to customers fall under class code 4049?
If studio employees are engaged in manufacturing tasks—forming, glazing, firing and packing—those payroll dollars typically belong in class code 4049. Purely retail activity (selling rather than producing) is classified differently. Owners and officers may be eligible for exclusion from payroll if they meet California reporting rules and elections; independent contractors should be evaluated carefully against payroll and workplace control tests.
What practical controls reduce silica exposure in a pottery shop?
Use wet methods or slurry for mixing, local exhaust ventilation and enclosed processes for sanding/trimming, HEPA-filtered vacuums for cleanup, respiratory protection when required, and substitution or containment of dusty operations. Implement exposure monitoring, worker training, and medical surveillance when exposures approach limits under Cal/OSHA rules.
How can we lower workers' comp costs for kiln and glaze operations?
Focus on proactive controls: kiln-safe procedures and training, heat-resistant PPE, rigorous HazCom and chemical handling programs, dust-control engineering, preventative maintenance to avoid mechanical incidents, and a formal return-to-work program to shorten claim durations. Accurate payroll classification and working with a PEO for streamlined claims management and loss-control services also reduce premium over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 4049
- Classification
- Pottery Products Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $4.078 / $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 4049?
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