Class Code 7248
Marine Appraisers Or Surveyors
Class Code 7248 covers marine appraisers and surveyors who inspect vessels, cargo, and marine damage for insurers, shipowners, and salvors. This work often takes place on docks, piers and aboard vessels and carries a WCIRB pure premium rate of $2.014 per $100 of payroll (effective Sept 1, 2026). Understanding this classification helps California employers assign payroll correctly and manage exposures unique to marine inspections.
What Class Code 7248 Covers
This class applies to professionals who examine and report on the condition, value, and damage of vessels, cargo, hulls, machinery and marine equipment. Typical operations include dockside and on-board inspections, casualty surveys after collisions or groundings, cargo condition surveys (including stowage checks and moisture/damage assessments), quantifying loss for insurance claims, and preparing formal survey reports. Work may also involve attending salvage operations, taking samples (fuels, bilge water), photographing damage scenes, measuring hull deformation, and coordinating with port authorities and survey divers. Tasks that require commercial diving, heavy marine construction, or longshore labor are generally classified elsewhere, so employers should separate payroll for those activities.
Who It Applies To
- Independent marine surveyors and appraisers who inspect pleasure and commercial vessels
- Survey firms retained by insurers, P&I clubs, and underwriters
- In-house surveyors employed by shipping companies, brokers, and port operators
- Salvage adjusters and casualty investigators who board vessels or inspect cargo
- Cargo condition inspectors for exporters/importers and marine survey companies
Common Job Duties
- Boarding vessels to inspect hulls, machinery spaces, cargo holds and superstructure
- Documenting and photographing damage, water ingress, and stowage issues
- Measuring and testing for fuel/oil leaks, bilge contamination, and cargo moisture
- Preparing written survey reports, estimates of repair cost, and loss statements
- Coordinating with ship captains, port authorities, and insurance representatives
- Attending salvage operations and supervising temporary repairs or patching
- Performing on-deck measurements and limited stability or weight assessments
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.014 Rate
The WCIRB pure premium of $2.014 per $100 of payroll represents the portion of workers' compensation cost allocated to expected claim costs for this classification. Insurers use that pure premium as the base and then add expense loads, state assessments, and apply your company-specific modifiers (experience modification, schedule credits) to calculate the final premium. Final cost is influenced by payroll accuracy, claim frequency/severity, classification splits (e.g., separating diving or longshore work), and loss control practices.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA enforces maritime and general industry safety requirements that apply to surveyors working on docks and vessels, including fall protection, personal flotation device use, hazard communication for fuels and chemicals, and confined space entry procedures. Employers must provide training, PPE, rescue plans, and hazard assessments specific to marine environments; where work involves hazardous atmospheres or possible engulfment in tanks or holds, a written confined space program and atmospheric testing are required. Maintaining records of training, inspections, and incidents helps satisfy Cal/OSHA enforcement and reduces liability.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 7248
A PEO like Key HR can help employers with classification accuracy, payroll tracking for time spent aboard vessels, and centralized claims management to control frequency and costs. Key HR provides loss-control resources tailored to marine surveyors (PFD policies, confined-space procedures, on-site safety audits, and training), coordinates return-to-work plans, and leverages group purchasing and experience-mod reduction strategies to lower overall workers' comp costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
If my surveyor sometimes dives to inspect underwater damage, does Class Code 7248 still apply?
No. Routine commercial diving has distinct hazards and is typically classified separately. Employers should segregate payroll for diving activities and report those hours under the appropriate diving or marine contractor classification to avoid misclassification and incorrect premium.
How should I allocate payroll when surveyors split time between office reports and on-board inspections?
Payroll should be split between the on-board/dock work (7248) and clerical or administrative codes for true office time. Accurate time tracking and documentation of field hours versus office hours helps ensure correct premium and avoids audits.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp risk and premiums for marine surveyors?
Implement mandatory PFD use, slip-resistant footwear, boarding procedures, confined-space entry protocols, atmospheric testing, and quick rescue plans. Document training, conduct regular on-site safety audits, and work with a PEO or broker to ensure proper classification and proactive claims handling to lower experience modification over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 7248
- Classification
- Marine Appraisers Or Surveyors
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.014 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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