Class Code 4557
Ink, Adhesive, Polish Or Wax Products Mfg
Class code 4557 covers California employers who manufacture inks, adhesives, polishes or wax products — from solvent-based inks to specialty wax compounds. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate is $4.216 per $100 of payroll, a rate that reflects the chemical, flammable and mechanical exposures common to this work.
What Class Code 4557 Covers
This classification applies to operations that compound, mix, mill, blend, coat, dry, package and bottle inks, adhesives, polishes and wax products. It includes production floor tasks such as weighing raw resins and solvents, using milling or dispersing equipment, applying coatings in continuous lines, and automated or manual filling and sealing of finished products. Laboratory technicians who formulate and test lot samples on the production site are typically included when their duties are integral to manufacturing. Tasks that are not manufacturing — such as pure sales, off-site distribution, or clerical office work — are usually assigned different class codes.
Who It Applies To
- Small and mid-size manufacturers of printing inks and specialty inks
- Adhesive and glue compounders (hot-melt, solvent-borne, waterborne)
- Producers of polishes, waxes, and surface treatment compounds
- Production operators on mixing, milling, coating, and filling lines
- On-site lab technicians performing formulation and QC testing
- Maintenance technicians servicing mixers, filters, and pumps
Common Job Duties
- Measuring and weighing resins, solvents, pigments, fillers and additives
- Operating ball mills, dispersers, high-shear mixers, and coating machines
- Heating, cooling and solvent recovery operations and operating drying ovens
- Filling, capping, labeling and packaging finished ink, adhesive or polish containers
- Sampling and bench testing batches in an on-site laboratory
- Routine equipment maintenance, filter changes, and pump repairs
- Loading/unloading raw material deliveries and handling drums or IBCs
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $4.216 Rate
The pure premium rate of $4.216 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of future claim payments (medical and indemnity) per payroll dollar for the class. Insurers multiply this pure premium by the employer's payroll (divided by 100) and then apply experience modification, policy fees, and insurer loadings to determine the final premium. Final cost is affected by the employer's loss history (experience modifier), safety program quality, payroll mix (production vs clerical), state assessments, and any credits or debits applied by the carrier.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements most relevant to this work include a written Hazard Communication (GHS) program with SDS accessibility and labeling for all raw materials and mixtures, and compliance with Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) and control measures for respiratory hazards. Employers must also implement appropriate controls for flammable and combustible liquids (storage, bonding/grounding, and ventilation), a respiratory protection program when exposures exceed limits, machine guarding and lockout/tagout for equipment maintenance, and confined space procedures for tanks and silos when applicable.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 4557
A PEO like Key HR helps manufacturers in class 4557 by centralizing safety and claims services: we manage SDS libraries, deliver operator and HAZCOM training, perform site audits and engineering control recommendations (ventilation, local exhaust), and coordinate timely claims handling and return-to-work programs. Key HR's pooled purchasing and safety consulting can lower loss costs and reduce the experience modifier over time, which directly impacts the premium employers pay.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are laboratory technicians who test ink batches included in class 4557?
Yes — lab personnel who perform formulation, quality control testing, and sample preparation on-site as part of the manufacturing process are typically classified in 4557. Purely administrative or off-site testing duties may be classified differently.
How can we reduce workers' comp costs for solvent-based manufacturing?
Focus on engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation, closed mixing and transfer systems), substitute less hazardous solvents when possible, enforce PPE and respiratory programs, implement strong lockout/tagout and machine guarding, and document training — all of which reduce injury frequency and severity and improve experience modification.
Does packaging and palletizing finished containers fall under this code?
Manual or line-based packaging and filling performed on the manufacturing site as part of producing the product is generally included in 4557. Separate warehousing or third-party distribution operations should be coded differently.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 4557
- Classification
- Ink, Adhesive, Polish Or Wax Products Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $4.216 / $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 4557?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.