Class Code 4150
Optical Goods Mfg; Lens Mfg
Class Code 4150 applies to businesses that manufacture optical goods and ophthalmic lenses in California. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for this class is $2.568 per $100 of payroll. Accurate classification and tailored loss-control are important because lens manufacturing combines mechanical, chemical and optical processes that carry unique injury and regulatory risks.
What Class Code 4150 Covers
This classification covers commercial operations that produce optical goods and ophthalmic lenses — including surfacing, grinding, polishing, edging, coating (anti-reflective and hard coatings), vacuum deposition, and lens assembling operations in a manufacturing or lab setting. It includes operations that cast or mold plastic lens blanks, generate prescription surfaces with CNC generators or lathes, execute thermal tempering, and perform chemical or physical coatings and curing. Facilities that perform inspection, precision measurement, and final packaging of lenses are included when the work is part of upstream manufacturing rather than retail dispensing. Laboratory R&D and pilot production of optical coatings and lens treatments also fall here when they involve hands-on manufacturing processes.
Who It Applies To
- Independent ophthalmic lens manufacturing laboratories
- Spectacle lens manufacturers (plastic and glass)
- Optical coating and AR vacuum-deposition facilities
- Prescription surfacing and edging shops serving opticians
- Small-scale optical R&D and prototype lens shops
Common Job Duties
- Operating CNC generators, diamond lathes, and surfacing/polishing machines
- Cutting, edging and beveling lens blanks and frames
- Applying and curing coatings (AR, hardcoat) using vacuum deposition, dip coaters, or UV ovens
- Mixing, dispensing and cleaning with solvents, adhesives and coating chemistries
- Quality inspection using optical interferometers, microscopes, and metrology tools
- Packaging, labeling, and preparing finished lenses for shipment
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.568 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $2.568 per $100 of payroll is the base cost actuaries estimate will pay for expected claims for this class before insurer expenses and adjustments. Insurers apply this pure premium to an employer's reported payroll in the class to produce a base premium, then adjust it for the insurer's expense constant, the employer's experience modification (X-mod), schedule or merit credits, policy deductibles, and state-mandated fees. Final premium is therefore affected by actual payroll allocation, loss history, safety program strength, and audit findings.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements commonly triggered in lens manufacturing include maintaining a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), implementing hazard communication for solvents and coating chemicals, and running a written respiratory protection program when exposures exceed permissible limits. Machine guarding, lockout/tagout procedures for maintenance, local exhaust ventilation for coating booths and polishing stations, and accessible emergency eyewash and shower facilities are standard compliance elements. Employers must also provide training and keep accurate exposure and training records and promptly report serious workplace injuries to Cal/OSHA.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 4150
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in Class 4150 by ensuring accurate payroll classification, implementing industry-specific safety programs (ventilation checklists, PPE matrices, machine-guarding audits), and coordinating claims management to limit indemnity and medical costs. Key HR can provide on-demand safety consulting, return-to-work planning, consolidated workers' comp administration, and loss-control training that reduce recordable injuries and lower experience modification over time.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Do retail opticians and eye care stores fall under Class 4150?
No. Class 4150 is specific to manufacturing and lab-based production of optical goods and lenses. Retail dispensing, optician services, and optometry offices are typically assigned different class codes because their hazards and operations (customer service, fitting frames, retail sales) differ from manufacturing tasks.
What engineering controls and PPE are recommended for lens coating operations?
Primary controls include local exhaust ventilation or capture hoods at coating and curing stations, enclosed coating systems or vacuum deposition chambers with appropriate capture, and solvent recovery systems. Required PPE often includes chemical-resistant gloves, goggles or face shields, appropriate respirators under a written program when ventilation is insufficient, and hearing protection around polishing machines.
What steps can reduce workers' comp costs for a lens manufacturer?
Key steps are accurate classification of manufacturing vs. non-manufacturing payroll, an active IIPP, machine-guarding and lockout/tagout enforcement, exposure monitoring and ventilation for coatings, targeted employee training, and a documented light-duty return-to-work program. Consistent reporting, prompt medical management of claims, and partnering with a PEO for loss-control services will also help lower experience modification and premiums over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 4150
- Classification
- Optical Goods Mfg; Lens Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.568 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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