Class Code 6361
Canal/Jetty/Breakwater Construction; Cross-Country Water Pipeline Construction
Class Code 6361 applies to construction work on canals, jetties, breakwaters and long-distance water pipelines — operations that combine marine and heavy‑civil construction hazards. This classification matters because it reflects the elevated exposures and specialized controls required for work over water, on barges, in dredged channels and across varied terrain. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for this class in California is $2.504 per $100 of payroll.
What Class Code 6361 Covers
This class covers contractors and crews engaged in building, repairing or extending canals, jetties and breakwaters and in installing cross‑country water transmission pipelines. Typical operations include dredging, rock armor placement, pile driving, cofferdam and seawall construction, concrete placement in marine environments, barge and crane operations, and long‑distance pipe laying across soils, wetlands and road crossings. It covers both onshore work adjacent to water and work performed from floating platforms and barges, including temporary access construction, dewatering and sediment control. Specialized tasks performed under this classification include pipeline trenching and backfill, pipe welding or fusion, cathodic protection installation and shore stabilization associated with the waterway or pipeline project.
Who It Applies To
- Marine and coastal construction contractors building jetties, breakwaters, seawalls and canals
- Dredging companies and barge operators handling placement of rock, sand and silt
- Civil contractors installing cross‑country potable or irrigation water pipelines
- Heavy equipment operators and crane crews working from barges or unstable shorelines
- Specialty crews: pile drivers, cofferdam installers, dewatering crews and pipe welders
Common Job Duties
- Operating dredges, clamshells and excavators to remove or place material in waterways
- Driving piles, setting armor rock and placing large precast concrete units for jetties or breakwaters
- Installing cofferdams, sheet piles and temporary dewatering systems for in‑water pours
- Laying, welding or fusion‑joining long lengths of water pipeline across varied terrain
- Operating barges, deck cranes and winches to position materials and crews over water
- Trenching, shoring and backfilling for pipeline burial; installing cathodic protection and fittings
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.504 Rate
The approved pure premium rate of $2.504 per $100 of payroll represents the portion of expected loss costs (medical+indemnity) attributed to this classification. To estimate an employer's premium you multiply payroll/100 by the pure premium and then apply experience modification, carrier expense loads, policy discounts and any class or payroll splits identified at audit. Final cost is influenced by your loss history (E‑mod), payroll mix, state and insurer adjustments, and how accurately tasks are classified.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA construction standards apply fully to marine and pipeline work: employers must maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), use a competent person for trenching and excavation, and implement fall protection for work over water and elevated platforms. Confined space entry procedures, respiratory protection, welding and hot‑work controls, and lockout/tagout are commonly required; employers must also provide site‑specific training, PPE and documented rescue plans for over‑water and confined‑space exposures.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 6361
A PEO like Key HR helps ensure correct payroll classification for Class 6361, centralize California compliance (IIPP, training and recordkeeping), and deliver proactive loss control services tailored to marine and pipeline hazards. Key HR can manage claims and return‑to‑work programs, coordinate safety training and site audits, and help reduce premiums by improving safety performance and documentation prior to audits and experience rating calculations.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does work performed from a barge or floating platform automatically fall under Class Code 6361?
If the work is construction of canals, jetties, breakwaters or cross‑country water pipelines (dredging, pile driving, rock placement, pipe laying) it is typically coded to 6361 whether performed from shore or barges. However highly specialized tasks (commercial diving, third‑party marine services) should be disclosed to your carrier because they may require separate classification.
What steps will most reduce workers' comp costs for this classification?
Key drivers are reducing lost‑time injuries and documenting controls: implement a competent‑person excavation program, confined‑space entry and rescue plans, fall protection over water, routine barge/crane inspections, and formal IIPP training tied to site hazards. Strong return‑to‑work and drug‑testing programs plus detailed job descriptions help during audits and lower experience‑mod impacts.
How does a payroll audit treat supervisors and specialty crews?
Payroll for foremen and onsite supervisors is generally reportable under the same classification when they spend the majority of time on 6361 operations; if supervisors split time across distinctly different operations, payroll should be accurately apportioned. Specialty crews (e.g., pipe welders or divers) should be disclosed separately so the carrier can assign the correct subclassifications during audit.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 6361
- Classification
- Canal/Jetty/Breakwater Construction; Cross-Country Water Pipeline Construction
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.504 / $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 6361?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.