Class Code 8071
Stores – Books, Video Media Or Recorded Audio Media – Retail
Class Code 8071 covers California retail stores that sell books, video media and recorded audio media. The approved pure premium rate is $0.771 per $100 of payroll, a relatively low retail rate, but correct classification and loss control still matter to keep premiums down.
What Class Code 8071 Covers
This classification applies to customer-facing retail operations whose primary business is selling printed books, DVDs/Blu-rays, digital media codes, CDs and other recorded audio media. It covers activities inside the retail footprint: point-of-sale transactions, merchandising floor sales, receiving and stocking of boxed inventory, inventory counts, display assembly and routine store cleaning. It does not cover separate repair, manufacturing or large-scale distribution/fulfillment operations; if a business primarily warehouses and ships product, a warehouse/distribution class code is typically used instead. The code captures full- and part-time cashiers, floor staff, stock clerks and store managers engaged in normal retail duties at brick-and-mortar locations.
Who It Applies To
- Independent bookstores and chains selling new and used books
- Entertainment/media retailers selling DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs and vinyl
- Specialty shops combining books with recorded audio or video merchandise
- Store managers, cashiers and sales associates working on the sales floor
- Stock clerks and receiving personnel who handle boxed media shipments
Common Job Duties
- Operating point-of-sale systems, processing sales, returns and exchanges
- Lifting and carrying cases or boxes of books, discs and merchandise
- Stocking shelves, rotating displays and setting up promotional racks
- Receiving shipments, unpacking boxes and performing inventory counts
- Using ladders or step stools to access high shelving and displays
- Cleaning floors, dusting shelving and maintaining safe public areas
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $0.771 Rate
The pure premium rate of $0.771 per $100 of payroll represents the portion of premium intended to cover expected claim costs for this class. To estimate pure premium, divide total payroll by 100 and multiply by 0.771; insurers then add expense loads, assessments and taxes to produce the final premium. Your actual premium is also affected by experience modification (loss history), payroll reporting accuracy, state assessments and any policy-level credits or debits.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
California employers operating retail stores must maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and provide training on hazards specific to retail work, including manual lifting, ladder safety and violence prevention. Cal/OSHA General Industry requirements also call for hazard communication for cleaning chemicals, appropriate PPE when needed, reporting serious workplace injuries, and safe use of portable ladders and step stools.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8071
A PEO like Key HR can centralize payroll reporting, manage workers' compensation claims and administer return-to-work programs that shorten lost-time exposure. Key HR also helps implement loss control measures (IIPP development, lifting and ladder training, POS ergonomics, robbery prevention), coordinates claims advocates and can help improve experience modification to reduce future premiums.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are store managers and part-time clerks covered under Class Code 8071?
Yes. Managers, cashiers, sales associates and part-time floor staff whose primary duties are retail sales, stocking and customer service at a media/book store are typically included in 8071.
If I do online order fulfillment from the same location, does that change my classification?
If the majority of your payroll and operations are still retail sales in the store, 8071 usually applies. If outbound fulfillment, packing and shipping become the primary operation, a warehouse or distribution classification may be more appropriate and should be discussed with your insurer or PEO.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp claims and premiums for media retailers?
Implement a written IIPP, provide safe-lifting and ladder training, use anti-fatigue mats and ergonomic POS setups, control floor hazards and clutter, establish robbery prevention procedures, and manage early return-to-work options; these actions reduce injuries and improve your loss history over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8071
- Classification
- Stores – Books, Video Media Or Recorded Audio Media – Retail
- Pure Premium Rate
- $0.771 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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