Class Code 8117
Stores – Feed/Tack/Farm Supplies
Class Code 8117 covers retail stores that sell animal feed, equine tack, pet and farm supplies and the on‑site operations that support those sales. The WCIRB approved pure premium for California effective Sept 1, 2026 is $5.857 per $100 of payroll. Knowing this classification helps store owners manage payroll allocation, safety exposure and workers' compensation budgeting.
What Class Code 8117 Covers
This classification applies to retail stores whose primary business is selling livestock and pet feed, hay and bedding, equine tack and saddlery, small livestock supplies, and related farm or stable consumables. Covered operations include counter sales, receiving and stocking bulk and bagged feed, bagging or rebagging feed, filling customer orders, operating pallet jacks or forklifts, and limited on‑site tack fitting or repair performed as part of the retail service. It also includes store employees who load customer vehicles, prepare delivery orders and perform routine housekeeping and spill control in sales and storage areas. Full agricultural operations (on‑farm livestock care) or specialized vehicular delivery fleets may require different classifications; classification should reflect the actual work performed by the payroll group.
Who It Applies To
- Retail clerks and counter sales associates in feed and tack stores
- Stockroom personnel who handle, bag and palletize feed and bedding
- Delivery personnel who perform local store pickups and drop‑offs
- Forklift or pallet jack operators in store storerooms
- Tack fitters and employees performing minor tack repair and adjustments
Common Job Duties
- Lifting and carrying heavy feed bags, bales of hay or bedding
- Unloading trucks and palletizing bulk bags or sacks
- Operating pallet jacks, stackers or powered industrial trucks
- Measuring, bagging or rebagging feed and preparing pallet orders
- Assisting customers with loading heavy items into vehicles
- Maintaining aisles, sweeping up grain/feed spills and housekeeping
- Stock rotation, inventory counts and occasional tack fitting or minor repairs
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $5.857 Rate
The pure premium rate of $5.857 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB's cost estimate for expected claim costs for this class. Insurers multiply this pure premium by your payroll (divided by 100) to create the base loss cost; final premiums are adjusted by carrier expense loads, credits/debits, deductible choices and your employer experience modification. Factors that change your final premium include claims history, payroll mix by job task, location, safety controls and whether deliveries or higher‑risk operations are misclassified.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
California employers with feed and tack stores must maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and provide job‑specific training. Cal/OSHA requirements commonly triggered include hazard communication for pesticides/chemicals, a written respiratory protection program when employees are exposed to dust, and powered industrial truck training and certification for forklift operators. Regular housekeeping to control combustible dust hazards, proper ventilation where bulk feed is stored or bagged, and PPE use are essential compliance measures.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8117
A PEO like Key HR helps feed and tack stores reduce workers' comp cost through consolidated claims management, tailored loss control programs and safety training specific to feed handling and tack operations. Key HR can administer return‑to‑work programs, coordinate Cal/OSHA compliance documentation (IIPP, HazCom, respirator programs, forklift training) and leverage pooled buying power to lower insurance costs while keeping payroll allocation and classification accurate.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does local delivery by store employees fall under class code 8117?
Short local deliveries done by store employees as part of order fulfillment are often included under 8117, but sustained driving or use of a dedicated delivery fleet can trigger a separate motor‑vehicle or driver classification. Confirm classification with your insurer or Key HR to ensure payroll is assigned correctly.
What are the most effective ways to reduce workers' comp claims for a feed and tack store?
Implement mechanical aids (lift assists, pallet jacks), routine forklift operator training and certification, dust control and ventilation in bulk storage, regular housekeeping to prevent spills, ergonomics training for manual handling, and a formal return‑to‑work program to shorten claim duration and reduce experience‑mod increases.
Which Cal/OSHA trainings should my employees receive?
Essential trainings include your written IIPP overview, HazCom for chemicals and pesticides, powered industrial truck (forklift) training and refresher courses, and respiratory protection training if employees work around dust. Key HR can help develop and document these trainings to meet California requirements.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8117
- Classification
- Stores – Feed/Tack/Farm Supplies
- Pure Premium Rate
- $5.857 / $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 8117?
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