Class Code 5484
Plastering Or Stucco Work – Low Wage
Class code 5484 applies to low-wage plastering and stucco work in California, including mixing and applying cementitious coatings on buildings. The approved pure premium rate for Sept 1, 2026 is $8.447 per $100 of payroll, a baseline used to price workers' compensation exposure for these crews.
What Class Code 5484 Covers
This classification covers hands-on plastering and stucco operations where workers mix and apply cement, lime, gypsum or acrylic-based coatings to interior or exterior walls and ceilings. Typical tasks include mixing mortar or stucco, applying scratch, brown and finish coats, installing metal lath or wire mesh, patch and repair work, and cleanup of tools and spray equipment. It applies to crews working from ladders, scaffolds or ground level on residential and small commercial projects, where wage levels meet the WCIRBs low-wage threshold. Activities that involve structural masonry, large-scale cement finishing, or specialized EIFS installation may fall into different codes; accurate job descriptions at audit time determine final classification.
Who It Applies To
- Residential plastering and stucco contractors with small crews
- Plasterers and stucco applicators performing manual coating work
- Lath installers and mesh/wire attachment crews
- Laborers who mix, carry, and pump stucco/mortar
- Subcontractors on repair/renovation projects
- Contractors performing patching and exterior finish work
Common Job Duties
- Mixing stucco and plaster materials (cement, lime, sand, additives)
- Applying scratch, brown and finish coats with trowels and hawks
- Installing and fastening metal lath, corner beads, and control joints
- Operating hand pumps or spray guns for stucco application
- Working from ladders, mobile scaffolds, or supported staging
- Cleaning equipment, washing down surfaces, and removing debris
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $8.447 Rate
The pure premium rate of $8.447 per $100 of payroll represents the estimated cost of losses before insurer expenses and profit. To compute the pure premium, divide total payroll for class 5484 by 100 and multiply by 8.447; insurers then add loading factors, experience modification, and policy fees to set the final premium. Final cost is affected by your loss history, payroll mix, deductible choices, and the insurer's territory and expense constants.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Plastering and stucco work is subject to Cal/OSHA requirements for controlling silica and respiratory hazards, fall protection when working at heights, scaffold safety and inspection, PPE for skin and eye protection, and heat illness prevention for outdoor crews. Employers must implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls (wet methods, HEPA vacuums), maintain respiratory protection programs when respirators are required, provide training and safety data sheets for cementitious products, and follow scaffold and ladder regulations.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5484
A PEO like Key HR can help employers in class 5484 by ensuring accurate payroll classification at audit, implementing loss-prevention programs (silica controls, scaffold inspections, PPE policies), managing claims and return-to-work programs to limit experience modification impact, and negotiating workers' comp placements. Key HR also provides training resources, respiratory program support, and centralized payroll to reduce administrative burden and help control overall workers' comp costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my crew belongs in class code 5484 or another plastering/masonry code?
Classification depends on the specific operations, wage level, and whether work is primarily hand-applied plaster/stucco versus structural masonry or specialized EIFS. Keep detailed job descriptions and payroll records; during audits the insurer or auditor will compare duties performed to WCIRB descriptions to assign the correct code.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp risk for stucco crews?
Use wet-mix methods and HEPA-filtered vacuums to cut silica dust, enforce respiratory protection and fit testing when needed, institute scaffold and ladder inspection programs, rotate tasks to limit repetitive strain, require gloves/eye protection, and maintain a documented return-to-work plan for injured workers.
Can safety programs or experience modification lower the premium below the $8.447 rate?
The $8.447 figure is the pure premium; your final premium can be lower or higher depending on your EMR (experience modification), loss control measures, claim frequency/severity, payroll size, and insurer-specific loadings. Demonstrable safety programs and prompt claims management help reduce your EMR over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5484
- Classification
- Plastering Or Stucco Work – Low Wage
- Pure Premium Rate
- $8.447 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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