Class Code 5193
Computer/Telephone System/Equipment Installation, Service Or Repair
Class Code 5193 covers on-site installation, service and repair of computer and telephone system equipment in California — from structured cabling and network racks to PBX/VoIP hardware and field service troubleshooting. The WCIRB-approved pure premium rate for this class is $1.144 per $100 of payroll effective 9/1/2026, which informs how insurers price the expected cost of claims for these operations.
What Class Code 5193 Covers
This classification applies to work that involves installing, testing, servicing and repairing telephone and computer system equipment at customer sites. Typical operations include running and terminating low-voltage data and voice cabling (Cat5/6/6A, coax, fiber where part of communications systems), mounting network racks and patch panels, installing switches, routers, PBX and VoIP equipment, configuring and troubleshooting hardware, and performing on-site preventative maintenance and repairs. Work can occur in commercial offices, multi-tenant buildings, data centers, retail locations, industrial sites, and residential job sites when the activity is installation/service of communications equipment. The code covers both employees who perform the physical installation (cable pulling, termination, splicing where applicable) and those who travel to customer sites to service and repair equipment. It does not cover manufacturing of equipment, in-house IT work performed exclusively in an employer’s own office without field installation, or purely clerical/administrative tasks.
Who It Applies To
- Structured cabling installers who run and terminate data/voice cables
- Field service IT technicians who install and repair routers, switches, servers and PBX/VoIP systems
- Telecommunications technicians performing on-site PBX, handset, and gateway installs
- Network closet/rack installers and data center hardware movers
- Companies providing on-site setup, testing and preventive maintenance of communications systems
Common Job Duties
- Pulling and routing low-voltage cable through ceilings, conduits and raceways
- Terminating and testing RJ45, RJ11, coax, and fiber connectors and patch panels
- Mounting and grounding racks, patch panels, wall plates and network hardware
- Configuring and troubleshooting switches, routers, PBX/VoIP equipment and UPS units
- Climbing ladders and working on elevated platforms or in ceiling plenums
- Driving to customer sites with toolkits and carrying/positioning heavy enclosures or equipment
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $1.144 Rate
The pure premium rate of $1.144 per $100 of payroll represents the WCIRB’s calculated expected cost of claims for this classification before insurer overhead, profit and state assessments. To estimate basic workers' comp premium multiply your payroll for workers in this class by the rate (payroll/100 x 1.144). The actual premium your company pays will then be adjusted by your insurer’s loss costs, experience modification (past claims history), schedule or merit credits, state assessments, and any policy-level audits or minimum premiums.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements commonly applicable to 5193 work include ladder and fall protection rules, electrical safety orders for work near energized circuits, and PPE/use of eye protection when terminating fiber or using power tools. Employers must also follow confined space entry procedures and air monitoring when technicians enter manholes, vaults or other enclosed spaces, and implement hazard communication and lockout/tagout practices when servicing powered equipment. Training, written procedures and documented safety inspections are critical to meet Title 8 obligations and reduce claim risk.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5193
A PEO like Key HR helps California employers in Class Code 5193 by centralizing workers' comp administration, providing targeted safety training (ladder safety, electrical awareness, fiber handling, confined-space entry), and managing claims to reduce indemnity and medical costs. Key HR can also assist with return-to-work programs, experience-mod monitoring, subcontractor certificate tracking, and access to loss-control consultants to lower frequency and severity of claims — all of which help control the premium an employer ultimately pays.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does residential cable or phone work count under Class Code 5193?
Yes — when the work is installation, service or repair of computer or telephone systems at a customer’s residence it is typically coded to 5193. Work performed only inside your own company’s offices (in-house IT) is usually coded differently; document the site and nature of work for proper classification.
Are fiber optic installers always included in 5193?
Fiber optic installation that is part of computer/telephone system installs (pulling, terminating, testing) is generally included in 5193, but highly specialized splicing in utility vaults or construction-grade fiber work may be classified separately. Discuss specific operations with your broker or Key HR to ensure accurate coding.
How do subcontractors affect my workers' comp exposure for this class?
If subcontractors carry their own California workers' comp and you obtain COIs, their payroll is usually excluded. If you pay them as employees or fail to secure coverage, their payroll must be reported under your classification. A PEO can manage contractor audits and COI collection to reduce misclassification risk.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5193
- Classification
- Computer/Telephone System/Equipment Installation, Service Or Repair
- Pure Premium Rate
- $1.144 / $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 5193?
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