Class Code 4111
Glassware Mfg; Incandescent Lamp Mfg; Cathedral/Art Glass Mfg
Class code 4111 covers employers who manufacture glassware, incandescent lamps, and cathedral/art (stained) glass in California. The approved pure premium rate for this class is $2.560 per $100 of payroll, a key factor in workers' comp costs for producers of blown, pressed, cut or assembled glass products.
What Class Code 4111 Covers
This classification applies to operations that transform raw glass materials into finished glassware, light bulbs or stained/cathedral glass panels. Typical processes include furnace operation and molten glass handling, glass blowing and pressing, mold forming, annealing in lehrs, cutting, grinding, polishing and surface finishing. It also covers incandescent lamp production steps such as bulb forming, electrode assembly, evacuating/filament work and final sealing, as well as artisanal stained-glass work like cutting, leading, soldering and cementing. Work that is primarily fabrication and assembly in a shop or factory setting belongs here; retail sales or on-site glazing/installation may be classified differently depending on the primary business activity.
Who It Applies To
- Commercial glassware manufacturers (blown or pressed bottles, tableware)
- Incandescent lamp manufacturers and assembly plants
- Cathedral or stained-glass studios producing leaded panels and windows
- Hollow glass blowers and mold press operators in factories
- Bench workers who cut, grind, polish and assemble glass products
Common Job Duties
- Operating and maintaining glass furnaces and kilns (charging, temperature control)
- Glassblowing, pressing, molding and shaping molten glass
- Annealing and lehr operations to relieve thermal stress
- Cutting, grinding, polishing and edge-finishing of glass pieces
- Soldering lead came and assembling stained-glass panels
- Assembling lamp components (filament, base, evacuation) and final sealing
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.560 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.560 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of workers' compensation claims for this class before insurer expenses and profit. Insurers multiply this rate by your payroll in hundreds of dollars, then add assessments, experience modification (X-mod), policy fees and any credits or discounts to calculate the final premium. Your actual cost is influenced by your payroll mix, claims history, safety controls, deductibles and whether payroll is correctly assigned to this class.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA rules commonly applied to these operations include heat illness prevention (CCR, Title 8, section 3395), respiratory protection and permissible exposure limits for respirable crystalline silica (see CCR, Title 8, section 5155 and related guidance), and hazard communication for fluxes, colorants and solvents. Employers must provide effective local exhaust ventilation, respiratory protection programs when exposures exceed limits, PPE for thermal and cut hazards, and medical surveillance where lead or silica exposures occur.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 4111
A PEO like Key HR helps California glass manufacturers by ensuring correct classification and payroll reporting, implementing targeted safety programs (heat-illness plans, silica controls, respirator programs), and managing claims to protect your experience modification. Key HR offers consolidated payroll and benefits administration, timely return-to-work coordination and access to safety consultants and preferred carriers to help reduce workers' comp costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does a small stained-glass studio belong in class code 4111?
Yes if the studio’s primary business is manufacturing cathedral or stained glass panels (cutting, leading, soldering, cementing) rather than installation or retail sales. Small artisan shops that perform production activity and employ bench glassworkers are typically classified under 4111; confirm with your insurer or PEO for cases with mixed activities.
What practical steps lower premiums for glassware and lamp manufacturers?
Focus on engineering controls (local exhaust for dust/fumes, machine guarding), administrative controls (heat-illness plans, maintenance logs), documented training for furnace and grinder operators, a formal respiratory protection program, and a proactive return-to-work plan. Reducing claim frequency and severity is the most effective way to improve your experience modification and lower future premiums.
What specific PPE and training are required for workers in this class?
Required protections include heat-resistant gloves and face shields for molten glass work, cut-resistant gloves for cutting/grinding, safety glasses with side shields, respiratory protection when silica or fumes are present, and hearing protection near furnaces. Employers must provide task-specific training (furnace operation, respirator fit/testing, safe grinding techniques, soldering safety) and document competency under Cal/OSHA standards.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 4111
- Classification
- Glassware Mfg; Incandescent Lamp Mfg; Cathedral/Art Glass Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.560 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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