Class Code 6220
Excavation/Grading Land/Land Leveling – High Wage
Class Code 6220 covers excavation, site grading and land leveling operations in California where employees perform heavy earthmoving and ground preparation work; this listing reflects a High Wage grouping. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for this class is $3.607 per $100 of payroll, which matters because excavation is a high-exposure construction operation with specific regulatory and safety demands.
What Class Code 6220 Covers
This classification applies to companies and crews that perform excavation, grading, cut-and-fill, site leveling, soil compaction, berm and slope construction, and related earthmoving activities. It includes work done with heavy equipment (bulldozers, excavators, motor graders, scrapers, backhoes) as well as hand crews who prepare grades, lay out slopes, or finish surfaces. Typical projects include residential and commercial site preparation, road subgrade work, agricultural land leveling, and large-scale lot grading for development. "High Wage" indicates the payroll grouping used for premium calculation and usually applies where the labor force is paid at a higher wage rate or where supervisory and operator pay is elevated compared with lower-wage groupings.
Who It Applies To
- Excavation and grading contractors performing site preparation
- Heavy equipment operators (dozers, excavators, graders)
- Site superintendents and foremen overseeing land leveling
- Earthwork subcontractors on commercial and residential projects
- Land developers and large agricultural leveling crews
Common Job Duties
- Operating bulldozers, motor graders, scrapers, excavators and backhoes for cut/fill and leveling
- Setting grades, reading and staking plans, and using laser/grade control systems
- Trenching for utilities and backfilling/compaction of soil layers
- Hand finishing, raking, and fine grading around structures and drainage features
- Maintaining and inspecting heavy equipment and safety systems
- Hauling, loading and unloading soil, rock and spoils
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $3.607 Rate
The pure premium rate of $3.607 per $100 of payroll is the base cost intended to cover expected claim costs for this class. To calculate base premium multiply total payroll for class 6220 by 0.03607; carriers then apply experience modifications, policy provisions, discounts, assessments, and any schedule credits or debits to determine the final premium an employer pays. Factors that affect the actual premium include your loss history (experience modification), classification accuracy, payroll mix, state assessments, and any claims management or safety program credits.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA construction safety orders require a competent person to inspect excavations, implement protective systems (sloping, benching, shoring, shielding), and ensure safe access/egress for trenches. Employers must comply with California's silica dust controls, heat illness prevention rules for outdoor work, equipment guarding and rollover protective structures, and traffic control/flagging when working near roadways. Regular documented training, daily pre-entry inspections, and utility-location procedures are commonly required.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 6220
A PEO like Key HR can help employers in class 6220 by ensuring correct payroll reporting and classification, centralizing claims reporting and return-to-work coordination, and providing tailored safety programs, training, and toolbox talks that meet Cal/OSHA standards. By bundling workers' comp in a professional program, Key HR can streamline audits, help lower experience modification through proactive claims management, and assist with regulatory documentation that reduces exposure and long-term premium costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my crew should be classified under 6220 rather than another excavation code?
Classification depends on the primary operations performed and payroll allocation. Use 6220 when the core work is excavation, grading or land leveling using heavy earthmoving equipment; if your crews perform different primary activities (e.g., utility installation or paving) separate classifications may apply. An employer should document job duties and payroll to justify the class during audits.
What specific Cal/OSHA controls reduce premium exposure for excavation work?
Implementing a competent-person program for trenching inspections, using engineered protective systems, conducting silica controls and fit testing when required, heat illness prevention plans, and formal equipment operator qualification and maintenance records all reduce incident frequency and severity, which helps lower experience modification and future premiums.
Can a PEO help if I had a recent excavation claim that raised my rate?
Yes. A PEO can manage the claim process to control costs, coordinate modified duty to shorten time off work, provide return-to-work programs, and implement targeted safety changes to prevent recurrence—steps that can limit the impact on your experience modification and long-term workers' comp costs.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 6220
- Classification
- Excavation/Grading Land/Land Leveling – High Wage
- Pure Premium Rate
- $3.607 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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