Class Code 8720
Inspection For Insurance/Safety/Valuation; Elevator Inspecting; Weighers/Samplers/Inspectors On Docks/Rail Stations/Warehouses; Unmanned Aircraft System Operation – Less Than 55 Pounds
WCIRB Class Code 8720 applies to on-site inspection, weighing/sampling and certain small drone operations used for insurance, safety, valuation and elevator inspections. The approved pure premium rate is $2.014 per $100 of payroll (effective Sept 1, 2026). Understanding this classification matters because accurate coding and targeted controls can lower claims and help you remain Cal/OSHA-compliant.
What Class Code 8720 Covers
This class covers employees who perform visual and operational inspections for insurance, safety surveys and valuation work; elevator inspecting (inspection and testing only, not repair or installation); weighers and samplers stationed on docks, rail yards and warehouses who determine weights, take representative samples or verify shipments; and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones) that weigh less than 55 pounds used to inspect property, roofs, equipment or inventory. It includes workers who board railcars, climb ladders or platforms to access scale or sampling points, enter machine rooms or hoistways to observe elevator operation, or pilot small drones to collect photographic, thermal or volumetric data. The class is intended for inspection-only activities — companies performing maintenance, heavy mechanical repairs, elevator installation, or high-risk construction tasks should generally use other WCIRB classifications. Payroll for part-time or per-job inspectors, warehouse weighers, and in-house drone pilots is captured here when they are employees on the employer’s payroll.
Who It Applies To
- Field insurance or property inspectors who document roof, structural and equipment condition
- Elevator inspectors and test technicians performing inspections and functional tests (not installers/repairers)
- Weighmasters and scale operators at docks, warehouses and rail stations
- Material samplers and quality-control inspectors taking bulk or container samples
- Remote UAS (drone) operators under 55 pounds performing aerial inspections and surveys
Common Job Duties
- Conducting visual and functional inspections of elevators, hoistways, and machine rooms
- Operating and certifying scales, weighing railcars or truckloads and recording weights
- Collecting material samples (grain, aggregate, liquids) and labeling/shipping samples
- Piloting small unmanned aircraft systems to capture photos, thermal images, or volumetric measurements
- Completing inspection reports, photos, measurements and condition/value assessments on site
- Accessing elevated platforms, ladders, rooftop edges or confined spaces to observe equipment
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.014 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.014 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB’s estimate of expected claim costs for this classification. Insurers use that rate as the base to calculate premium: (payroll ÷ 100) × pure premium × insurer modifiers and assessments. The final premium you pay is affected by your employer experience modification, company safety record, payroll mix, policy credits/fees and any classification audits.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requires employers to follow Title 8 General Industry safety orders applicable to inspection work — including fall protection for rooftop and ladder access, permit-required confined-space procedures for elevator pits and machine rooms, control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) when testing equipment, and traffic controls at docks and rail operations. Drone operators must also follow federal FAA rules (e.g., Part 107) while employers must perform workplace hazard assessments, provide training, PPE and maintain written procedures for the specific inspection tasks.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8720
A PEO like Key HR can reduce workers' comp exposure for Class 8720 employers by ensuring correct payroll classification, providing prebuilt safety programs and training (fall protection, confined space, drone safety), managing claims and return-to-work plans, and leveraging group buying power for competitive insurance pricing. Key HR also runs payroll audits, risk assessments, and partners with safety consultants to lower loss frequency and control experience-mod impacts.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class 8720 include drone operators?
Yes — employees operating unmanned aircraft systems weighing under 55 pounds for inspection, surveying or valuation are generally coded to 8720. Confirm classification if the drone work is part of repair, construction, or aerial spraying, which may use different codes.
Are elevator mechanics and repair technicians in this class?
No. This class covers elevator inspection and testing only. Mechanical repair, replacement or installation of elevator components is higher exposure and typically falls under a different, trade-specific classification.
What practical steps lower my workers' comp costs for 8720 exposures?
Documented safety programs (fall protection, ladder use, confined-space entry), FAA-compliant drone procedures and training, scale and sampling SOPs, strong return-to-work practices, and accurate payroll classification all reduce claims and the experience modification that increases premiums.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8720
- Classification
- Inspection For Insurance/Safety/Valuation; Elevator Inspecting; Weighers/Samplers/Inspectors On Docks/Rail Stations/Warehouses; Unmanned Aircraft System Operation – Less Than 55 Pounds
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.014 / $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 8720?
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