Class Code 5473
Asbestos Abatement
Class Code 5473 covers licensed asbestos abatement work in California — removal, encapsulation, enclosure, cleanup and related on-site activities where asbestos-containing material is disturbed. This classification matters because abatement carries high long-term exposure and regulatory risk; the approved pure premium rate is $10.977 per $100 of payroll for policy calculations.
What Class Code 5473 Covers
This class covers on-site asbestos abatement operations performed by trained and certified crews: removal of friable and non-friable asbestos-containing materials such as pipe insulation, sprayed-on insulation, transite panels, floor tile and roofing materials. It includes setup and maintenance of containment systems, negative-pressure enclosures, glovebag and wet-method removal, HEPA vacuuming, loading and packaging of regulated asbestos waste, and post‑abatement air monitoring and clearance testing. Work by onsite supervisors, abatement laborers, cleanup crews and wetting/encapsulation technicians performing those tasks is included. Routine office staff, laboratory analysts who do only off-site testing, and general demolition unrelated to controlled abatement are typically classified elsewhere.
Who It Applies To
- Licensed asbestos abatement contractors and their removal crews
- Asbestos abatement supervisors and on-site competent persons
- Environmental remediation firms performing regulated asbestos removal
- Residential and commercial abatement specialists (renovation/repair projects)
- Demolition subcontractors performing controlled asbestos removal
Common Job Duties
- Constructing and maintaining negative-pressure enclosures and polyethylene containment
- Removing friable ACM with wet methods, glovebag, or mechanical means per procedure
- HEPA vacuuming, cleaning surfaces, and managing contaminated debris
- Bagging, labeling and transporting regulated asbestos waste to approved disposal
- Performing clearance air monitoring and recording chain-of-custody for samples
- Donning, doffing and decontaminating PPE and operating supplied-air or powered respirators
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $10.977 Rate
The pure premium rate of $10.977 per $100 of payroll represents the WCIRB's estimate of expected claim costs for this class per $100 in payroll. Insurers use that pure premium as the loss component; the final premium an employer pays is adjusted by carrier expense loads, experience modification factors, policy deductibles, payroll audits and any classification splits for mixed operations. Employers with strong safety programs, low claims, and accurate payroll allocation can materially lower the insurer-applied rate.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA enforces stringent asbestos standards for construction and abatement (see Title 8 standards such as Section 1529) requiring a written exposure control plan, a designated competent person, engineering controls (negative pressure, HEPA filtration), worker training, respirator programs (Section 5144 fit-testing and maintenance), and medical surveillance for exposed employees. Employers must also follow California Department of Public Health or local certification requirements for abatement contractors and comply with waste handling and disposal rules and air monitoring/clearance procedures.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5473
A PEO like Key HR can help California abatement employers by ensuring proper payroll classification under 5473, bundling workers' comp with loss-control services, and coordinating claims and return-to-work programs to limit indemnity exposure. Key HR provides industry-specific safety program templates, training coordination, respirator and medical surveillance tracking, and access to carriers experienced with high-hazard remediation work, all of which can reduce premium volatility and help maintain compliance.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does every worker on an asbestos job belong in class code 5473?
Workers directly performing abatement tasks — removal, containment, cleanup and on-site clearance testing — are classified in 5473. Clerical staff, off-site lab analysts, or trades performing unrelated work that does not disturb ACM should be assigned other appropriate codes; mixed operations may require split payroll reporting.
What training and certifications are required in California for abatement crews?
California requires state-approved asbestos worker and supervisor training and contractor certification; Cal/OSHA also mandates employer-provided training, a written exposure control plan, respirator fit-testing, and medical surveillance when exposures meet action levels. Verify both Department of Public Health certification and Cal/OSHA training requirements for your project type.
How can I reduce workers' comp costs for class 5473?
Reduce costs by maintaining documented safety procedures, pre-job air monitoring, medical surveillance, return-to-work programs, and strict subcontractor insurance and certificate tracking. Using a PEO to centralize claims management, ensure correct payroll classification, and implement targeted loss-control services can help lower experience modification and overall premium.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5473
- Classification
- Asbestos Abatement
- Pure Premium Rate
- $10.977 / $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 5473?
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