Class Code 5029
Concrete Or Asphalt Sawing Or Drilling
Class Code 5029 applies to employees who perform concrete or asphalt sawing and drilling operations, including core drilling, slab and wall sawing, and pavement cutting. The approved pure premium for California effective September 1, 2026 is $6.157 per $100 of payroll — a rate that reflects the higher frequency and severity of cutting-related claims and silica exposures.
What Class Code 5029 Covers
This classification covers workers who operate diamond-blade saws (handheld, walk-behind, or ride-on), ring saws, and core drills to cut or drill concrete, reinforced concrete, asphalt, masonry or similar materials. Typical operations include slab cutting for utilities and repairs, wall and plunge sawing for openings, core drilling for pipe and conduit penetrations, and pavement cutting for tie-ins and trenching. The code is specific to the sawing/drilling activity itself — not to concrete placement or finishing; laborers who only assist and do not perform the cutting may be classified differently. The class includes both mobile contractor crews working on roadways and municipal maintenance crews performing pavement cuts, with exposures that vary by equipment type, dry vs. wet cutting, and traffic control needs.
Who It Applies To
- Independent concrete/asphalt sawing contractors and their crews
- Demolition contractors performing structural concrete cutting
- Utility contractors doing core drilling for penetrations/cores
- Municipal or county roadway maintenance crews performing pavement cuts
- General contractors with dedicated saw/drill operators on project sites
Common Job Duties
- Operating handheld circular saws and ring saws with diamond blades
- Running walk-behind and ride-on slab saws for pavement and floor cuts
- Performing core drilling for plumbing, electrical and HVAC penetrations
- Setting up water suppression, dust shrouds or HEPA vacuums for dust control
- Installing traffic control and barriers when cutting near roadways
- Inspecting blades, guards, arbors and cutting equipment and performing basic maintenance
- Managing slurry, runoff containment and site cleanup after wet cutting
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $6.157 Rate
The pure premium rate of $6.157 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of losses and loss-adjustment expenses per unit of payroll for this class in California. Insurers use the pure premium as the core component of the workers' compensation rate; actual employer premium will include insurer expense load, policy discounts or credits, experience modification factors, deductible choices, and PEO or group-rating adjustments. Controlling loss frequency and severity through safety measures and accurate payroll classification are the most direct ways employers influence their final premium.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA's Construction Safety Orders require strict controls for respirable crystalline silica (see Title 8, section 1532.3) including engineering controls (water suppression, local exhaust or HEPA-equipped vacuums), exposure assessment and written control plans. Employers must implement a respiratory protection program when controls don't keep exposures below the limit (Title 8, section 5144), provide hearing conservation where noise exceeds allowable levels, maintain machine guarding and PPE, and ensure competent-person oversight for worksite safety and traffic control near roadways.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5029
A PEO like Key HR can help employers in this classification by centralizing workers' compensation coverage and claims management, providing silica-compliance templates and training, sourcing appropriate PPE and dust-control equipment, and implementing light-duty return-to-work programs to reduce indemnity costs. Key HR's safety consultants and payroll/audit services also help ensure correct classification, accurate payroll reporting, and programmatic steps that lower experience modification and overall workers' comp expense.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 5029 apply to employees who only occasionally use a saw?
Classification depends on the worker's primary duties and exposure. If sawing or drilling is an occasional incidental task, those hours may be reported under the primary class for their regular work; if a worker spends a meaningful portion of time performing sawing/drilling, payroll should be assigned to 5029. Maintain time records to support payroll splits at audit.
What are the most effective controls to reduce silica exposure during cutting?
The hierarchy of controls favors engineering measures: continuous water suppression for wet cutting, local exhaust ventilation or HEPA vacuum dust collection for dry cutting, and proper blade/shroud maintenance. When exposures may exceed limits, supplement with a written respiratory program, fit-tested respirators, medical surveillance and training per Cal/OSHA requirements.
How can I lower workers' comp costs for crews under 5029?
Focus on preventing costly claims: invest in dust suppression and guarding, provide operator training and PPE, enforce traffic-control and site housekeeping, implement a documented return-to-work program, and ensure accurate payroll classification. Working with a PEO like Key HR can also provide pooled loss benefits, proactive claims handling, and safety consulting that reduce the experience modification and premium over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5029
- Classification
- Concrete Or Asphalt Sawing Or Drilling
- Pure Premium Rate
- $6.157 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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