Class Code 8013
Stores – Jewelry; Stores – Eyewear
Class Code 8013 covers retail jewelry and eyewear stores in California, including sales, display, light in‑store repair and dispensing operations. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for 8013 is $1.033 per $100 of payroll, a relatively low retail rate that still requires attention to theft, precision‑work hazards, and small‑tool exposures.
What Class Code 8013 Covers
This classification applies to retail establishments whose primary business is selling jewelry, watches, spectacles, sunglasses and related accessories, and that perform routine in‑store services tied to those sales. Typical operations include sales and customer service on the sales floor, secure storage and safe handling of inventory, point‑of‑sale transactions, simple repairs such as battery replacement, ring resizing or polishing, engraving, frame adjustments and dispensing eyeglasses. It also covers small in‑store optical finishing tasks when performed as part of retail service (for example frame adjustment or minor lens fitting) but not full scale manufacturing of lenses or mass jewelry fabrication. Back‑room duties like receiving shipments, inventory reconciliation, wrapping and basic cleaning are included when performed by store staff.
Who It Applies To
- Independent and chain jewelry retailers (boutiques and mall stores)
- Retail optical stores and eyewear boutiques that dispense frames and lenses
- Watch and jewelry kiosks that offer battery replacement, polishing, or sizing
- Retail locations that provide light in‑store engraving, polishing or lens fitting
- Sales clerks, storefront opticians/dispensers and counter attendants in these stores
Common Job Duties
- Assisting customers on the sales floor and at display cases
- Handling and inspecting jewelry, watches, frames and lenses
- Performing minor repairs: battery replacement, polishing, ring resizing, engraving
- Adjusting and fitting eyeglass frames, taking measurements for dispensing
- Operating small bench equipment (polishers, ultrasonic cleaners, lens edgers in limited retail use)
- Receiving, unpacking and securing high‑value inventory to safes or locked displays
- Cashiering, POS operation and packaging for shipment or customer pickup
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $1.033 Rate
The pure premium rate of $1.033 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB's base cost estimate for losses before insurer adjustments. Insurers multiply this rate by your reported payroll for employees in this class to get a base premium, then apply your experience modification, carrier schedule credits/debits, policy minimums, state assessments and other adjustments to determine the final premium. Accurate payroll reporting by class, good loss control, and claim management directly affect what you ultimately pay.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Retail jewelry and eyewear operations fall under Cal/OSHA General Industry requirements (Title 8). Key compliance areas include the Hazard Communication Standard for cleaners and polishing compounds, the Respiratory Protection Standard when soldering or producing airborne dusts, machine guarding and local exhaust ventilation for polishing and bench equipment, and provision of appropriate eye protection and gloves. Employers should also maintain robbery‑prevention planning, first‑aid readiness and training for handling chemical exposures and minor burns.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8013
A PEO like Key HR can help California jewelry and eyewear retailers by ensuring correct classification and payroll reporting, delivering targeted loss‑control programs (shop‑floor PPE, safe polishing and lens‑edging procedures, robbery prevention), and managing claims to minimize the impact on your experience modification. Key HR also provides return‑to‑work coordination, training materials for opticians and bench technicians, and consolidated payroll and regulatory filings that reduce administrative burden.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
If my store does in‑house jewelry or lens manufacturing, does it still belong in Class Code 8013?
If your operation is primarily retail and performs only light in‑store repairs and finishing, it typically fits 8013. If you operate a production‑style workshop or do substantial manufacturing of jewelry or lenses, a manufacturing class code may apply. Have Key HR or your insurer review your operations to confirm correct classification before your next audit.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp losses for jewelry and eyewear stores?
Focus on three areas: secure cash and high‑value inventory to reduce robbery and theft losses; control bench hazards with guards, ventilation and PPE to prevent cuts, eye injuries and inhalation exposures; and implement light‑duty/return‑to‑work protocols for minor hand injuries to avoid long‑term indemnity claims that raise your experience modifier.
Are opticians and frame dispensers covered under 8013?
Yes—retail opticians, dispensers and staff who fit and adjust frames and perform routine in‑store lens services are typically included in 8013. If your store operates a full optical lab doing large‑volume lens production, that portion of work may fall under a different classification.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8013
- Classification
- Stores – Jewelry; Stores – Eyewear
- Pure Premium Rate
- $1.033 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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