Class Code 5040
Iron Or Steel Erection – Structural; Bridge Building; Painting – Steel Structures Or Bridges
Class Code 5040 applies to on-site structural iron and steel erection, bridge construction and repair, and painting/coating of steel structures. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for California is $10.051 per $100 of payroll, a key input when budgeting workers' compensation costs for these high-hazard operations.
What Class Code 5040 Covers
This classification is specific to field work: assembling, hoisting, bolting, welding and securing structural steel members (columns, beams, trusses), erecting bridge superstructures and performing painting and surface-preparation on steel bridges and other fixed steel structures. It includes rigging and crane operations required to set members, installation of temporary bracing, erection of catwalks and platforms, and on-site abrasive blasting or power-tool cleaning prior to coating. The class covers both new construction and rehabilitation/retrofit work on bridges and structural steel. It does not cover shop fabrication of steel members (cutting, shop welding and machining done entirely in a fabrication shop), which is classified separately.
Who It Applies To
- Structural steel erectors and ironworkers employed by bridge and structural contractors
- General contractors and specialty bridge contractors performing field erection
- Certified riggers, crane operators and signal persons working on steel lifts
- Contractors performing abrasive blasting, surface prep and painting of bridges
- Maintenance crews performing in-place steel repairs and structural welding
Common Job Duties
- Assembling and aligning columns, beams, trusses and connection plates on-site
- Setting and securing bolts, installing welds, and performing on-site welding operations
- Rigging, signaling and operating cranes, hoists and gin poles to lift steel members
- Installing temporary bracing, catwalks, scaffolds and fall-protection anchors
- Surface preparation of steel: abrasive blasting, hand/power tool cleaning and solvent cleaning
- Applying primers, corrosion coatings and multi-coat painting systems to steel surfaces
- Inspecting and maintaining rigging, slings, chains and lifting hardware
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $10.051 Rate
The pure premium rate of $10.051 per $100 of payroll is the portion of workers' compensation cost allocated to expected claim costs for this classification before expense loads, taxes and insurer profit. To estimate base premium, multiply total payroll for employees in Code 5040 by 0.10051 (rate/100). Your final policy premium will vary based on experience modification (E-mod), deductible or retrospective programs, payroll audits, and any classification or premium adjustments.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Work under Code 5040 must comply with Cal/OSHA Construction Safety Orders and other Title 8 requirements addressing steel erection, fall protection, crane and rigging safety, and respiratory protection. Employers should maintain fall-protection systems, qualified riggers and crane inspections, written programs for respiratory protection and lead exposure (when blasting or removing lead-containing paint), and documented training and medical surveillance where required. Proper recordkeeping, permit-required confined space procedures on certain bridge elements, and Hazard Communication for coatings are commonly required.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5040
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in this classification by centralizing payroll and classification accuracy, providing targeted safety programs and training (fall protection, rigging, respiratory protection), and managing claims with experienced adjusters to contain costs. Key HR can assist with OSHA-required written programs, return-to-work plans, loss-run analysis and subcontractor oversight to reduce experience modification and lower long-term workers' comp expense.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does on-site painting and abrasive blasting of bridges automatically put workers in Class Code 5040?
Yes, on-site surface preparation and painting of steel bridges and fixed steel structures performed in the field are included in Code 5040. Shop-applied coatings in a fabrication shop are typically classified differently, so keep shop and field payrolls separated for accurate premium assignment.
What are the most effective ways to lower workers' comp costs for steel erection crews?
Control costs by enforcing fall protection and rigorous rigging procedures, providing trained crane crews and qualified welders, implementing pre-task hazard assessments, conducting medical surveillance for blasting/lead exposures, and establishing return-to-work transitional duty programs to reduce lost-time claims and improve your experience modifier.
What Cal/OSHA programs are essential for contractors working under this code?
Essential programs include a written fall-protection plan, crane and rigging inspection and operator qualification, respiratory protection for blasting/painting, lead and silica exposure controls and monitoring, hazard communication for coatings, and confined-space entry procedures where applicable.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5040
- Classification
- Iron Or Steel Erection – Structural; Bridge Building; Painting – Steel Structures Or Bridges
- Pure Premium Rate
- $10.051 / $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 5040?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.