Class Code 8846
Printing Operation – Screen Printing – Editing And Designing; Screen Printed Merchandise Dealers
Class code 8846 applies to screen printing operations, editing and designing of screen art, and dealers who sell screen‑printed merchandise in California. The WCIRB pure premium for this class is $1.436 per $100 of payroll, which reflects the industry’s mix of chemical, thermal and machine hazards. Understanding the specific tasks and exposures tied to this code helps employers control costs and stay Cal/OSHA compliant.
What Class Code 8846 Covers
This classification covers manual and automatic screen printing production on textiles, paper, plastics and promotional products, plus prepress tasks such as artwork editing, film separation, emulsion coating, and screen exposure. It also includes dealers who stock, sell and ship screen‑printed merchandise when the primary operations involve preparing or finishing screens and printed goods. Typical operations include mixing and handling inks and solvents, coating and reclaiming screens, operating flash dryers and conveyor ovens for curing, and packing finished products for shipment. It does not cover unrelated retail sales or purely office/design staff who do not handle presses or chemicals.
Who It Applies To
- Apparel and textile screen printing shops (t-shirts, hoodies, promotional garments)
- Commercial screen printers producing posters, decals, signs and specialty prints
- In‑house print shops at schools, clubs or marketing firms that operate screen presses
- Screen reclaiming and finishing technicians who clean and prepare screens
- Design/prepress staff who coat, expose and register screens as part of production
Common Job Duties
- Coating screens with photosensitive emulsion and exposing artwork on exposure units
- Loading, aligning and operating manual or automatic screen presses
- Mixing inks (water‑based, plastisol) and solvents and adjusting color formulations
- Operating flash dryers, conveyor ovens and heat cure equipment to set inks
- Cleaning and reclaiming screens using solvents, caustic strippers, and high‑pressure washers
- Packing, labeling and shipping finished screen‑printed merchandise
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $1.436 Rate
The approved pure premium of $1.436 per $100 of payroll is the expected dollar amount allocated for workers' compensation losses for this classification before insurer expenses and adjustments. To estimate pure premium, divide total payroll by 100 and multiply by 1.436 (for example, $200,000 payroll → $2,872 pure premium). The final premium an employer pays will change after applying experience modification (loss history), carrier expense loads, policy deductibles, and any classification splits or audits.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
California employers that operate screen printing shops must maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and comply with Hazard Communication (Cal/OSHA Title 8 Section 5194) and respiratory protection standards (Title 8 Section 5144) when exposures exceed limits. Engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation at washout stations and curing ovens, proper storage and handling of flammable solvents, SDS availability, fit‑testing for respirators, machine guarding and lockout/tagout for press maintenance are common Cal/OSHA expectations. Employers should also follow the Airborne Contaminants standard (Title 8 Section 5155) to monitor and control employee exposures.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8846
A PEO like Key HR can help screen printing employers reduce workers' comp costs through accurate job classification, consolidated purchasing power, and proactive claims management that keeps small claims from escalating. Key HR provides California‑specific safety templates (IIPP, Hazard Communication, respirator programs), training, SDS management, return‑to‑work coordination and regular payroll/classification audits to minimize misclassification and audit surprises.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Which employees should be classified under 8846 versus another code?
Employees who operate presses, coat and reclaim screens, mix inks, run curing ovens or perform washout and finishing tasks belong in 8846. Designers or clerical staff who only do office work should be assigned a clerical code (e.g., office). Sales personnel or retail cashiers who only sell finished merchandise should be classed separately from production.
How does the $1.436 pure premium translate to my actual premium?
Calculate basic pure premium by dividing total payroll by 100 and multiplying by 1.436 (for example, $150,000 payroll → $2,154 pure premium). Your insurer then applies your experience modification factor, policy expenses and any credits or debits, so the billed premium will typically be higher than the pure premium amount.
What practical safety steps most reduce claims for screen printing shops?
Key measures include installing local exhaust ventilation at washout stations and mixing areas, substituting less hazardous solvents/inks, implementing machine guarding and lockout/tagout for presses, enforcing PPE and glove use, providing respiratory protection and fit‑testing when needed, and maintaining clear SDS files and employee training under your IIPP.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8846
- Classification
- Printing Operation – Screen Printing – Editing And Designing; Screen Printed Merchandise Dealers
- Pure Premium Rate
- $1.436 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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