Class Code 4470
Wire, Wire Rope Or Wire Cable Mfg – No Wire Drawing
Class code 4470 covers manufacturers who form, assemble, splice, swage, test and package wire rope or wire cable using purchased wire — it does not include wire drawing. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium for California is $3.078 per $100 of payroll, a key driver of workers' compensation costs for these operations.
What Class Code 4470 Covers
This classification applies to facilities that convert purchased wire into finished rope, cable or assemblies without performing primary wire drawing. Typical operations include stranding and closing (forming multiple wires into a rope or cable), swaging or crimping fittings and terminals, spooling and despooling reels, basic jacketing or lubrication, tensile testing, inspection, and packaging. The code covers shop-floor production, quality testing, maintenance of production equipment, and packaging/warehousing of finished reels or coils. It excludes businesses that draw wire from rod, primary metallurgy, large-scale galvanizing plants, or on-site installation work performed by contractors under separate classifications.
Who It Applies To
- Wire rope and aircraft cable manufacturers assembling from purchased wire
- Marine rigging and synthetic/steel cable assembly shops
- Industrial cable shops producing lifting, hoisting or guy cables
- Companies that swage/crimp terminals and fittings onto cable
- Shops that spool, test, inspect and package finished reels or coils
Common Job Duties
- Operating stranding, closing and cabling machines to form ropes and cables
- Feeding, guiding and tensioning wire on pay-off stands and capstans
- Swaging, crimping or pressing terminals, fittings and end terminations
- Cutting, trimming and dressing cable ends plus deburring and inspection
- Spooling/despooling, weighing, labeling and packaging finished reels
- Performing tensile, elongation and non-destructive testing on samples
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $3.078 Rate
The approved pure premium of $3.078 per $100 of payroll represents the insurer's estimate of expected claims costs for this class before company-specific adjustments. Insurers use this pure premium together with an employer's experience modification, payroll audit results, policy premiums, and state assessments to calculate the final premium. Factors that affect the premium an employer actually pays include claim history, payroll accuracy by class, safety programs, industry loss trends, and use of retrospective or deductible plans.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements that commonly apply include machine guarding and safeguards on rotating equipment, control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) during maintenance, and personal protective equipment for cut and eye protection. Employers must also comply with hazard communication for lubricants and solvents, occupational noise standards and training requirements; Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations sets these workplace safety rules and training obligations.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 4470
A PEO like Key HR can reduce workers' comp exposure for Class 4470 clients by ensuring accurate payroll classification, implementing targeted loss-control programs (machine guarding, LOTO, ergonomics), and managing claims and return-to-work plans to limit indemnity costs. Key HR also offers centralized payroll reporting, safety training, and experienced claims advocates who speed medical management and improve outcomes, which can lower experience modifiers and future premium.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether my shop belongs in class 4470 or a different code?
If your operation converts purchased wire into rope or cable—stranding, closing, swaging, spooling, testing and packaging—but does not perform primary wire drawing from rod, you generally belong in 4470. If you draw wire, perform primary metallurgical processes, or do on-site installation, a different class code will likely apply. A payroll/classification audit or consultation with Key HR can confirm correct coding.
What practical safety steps most reduce claims for wire rope and cable shops?
Prioritize machine guarding on stranding/closing equipment, robust LOTO procedures for maintenance, cut-resistant gloves and eye protection, mechanical aids for reel handling, hearing conservation, and routine inspection and maintenance of tensioning devices. Regular operator training and written procedures for splicing and swaging significantly reduce lacerations and crush injuries.
What can change my workers' comp premium aside from the pure premium?
Your final premium is affected by your experience modification (based on prior claims), payroll reporting accuracy, classification mix, participation in retrospective or deductible programs, safety/supervision controls, and state assessments. Proactive claims management and return-to-work programs administered by a PEO can materially lower your experience modifier and future costs.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 4470
- Classification
- Wire, Wire Rope Or Wire Cable Mfg – No Wire Drawing
- Pure Premium Rate
- $3.078 / $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 4470?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.