Class Code 9082
Caterers - Not Restaurants
Class Code 9082 covers caterers (not restaurants) — businesses that prepare, transport, set up and serve food at off‑site events, banquets, weddings and corporate functions. This classification is priced at a pure premium rate of $2.784 per $100 of payroll for California and matters because a misclassification can affect premium, claims handling, and safety requirements.
What Class Code 9082 Covers
9082 applies to operations where the primary business activity is catering at locations away from a fixed restaurant: on‑site buffets, plated service at rented venues, corporate food service at client sites, and food preparation in temporary or mobile kitchens. It includes prep and finishing of menu items at a central commissary where staff then load equipment and food into trucks for delivery and on‑site setup. The code covers temporary cooking lines, buffet assembly, beverage service, bartending when provided by the caterer, and post‑event cleanup and dishwashing performed at event locations. It does not apply to traditional, fixed‑location restaurants, full‑service bars open to the public, or permanent food trucks that are classified under other WCIRB codes. Accurate payroll allocation is crucial when a business operates both a permanent food service location and an off‑site catering division.
Who It Applies To
- Independent off‑site caterers who serve weddings, corporate events, and private parties
- Banquet and event catering companies that set up temporary kitchens at venues
- Corporate catering departments that prepare and deliver food to client sites
- Mobile/temporary kitchen crews and on‑site banquet servers employed for events
- Delivery drivers who transport prepared food and catering equipment to venues
Common Job Duties
- Food preparation and finishing in commissaries or mobile kitchens
- Loading, transporting, and unloading hot and refrigerated food and equipment
- On‑site setup of buffet lines, chafing dishes, portable cooking equipment and bars
- Serving plated meals, bussing tables, and bartending at events
- Operating portable warmers, fryers, slicers and steam tables
- Event cleanup, dishwashing in temporary setups, and sanitation tasks
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.784 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.784 per $100 of payroll is the amount calculated to cover expected claim costs for this classification before insurer expenses and profit. To estimate the pure premium charge, divide total payroll by 100 and multiply by 2.784; insurers then add underwriting adjustments, policy fees, and your experience modification to determine the final premium. Final cost is affected by payroll mix (more drivers vs. servers), claim history, safety programs, and proper classification of employees.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Key Cal/OSHA requirements relevant to caterers include the Heat Illness Prevention standard for outdoor and mobile kitchen work, Hazard Communication for chemical cleaners, and Bloodborne Pathogens controls when staff may clean up bodily fluids. Employers must provide job‑specific training, appropriate PPE (heat‑resistant gloves, slip‑resistant footwear), safe ladder and vehicle loading procedures, and timely reporting of serious work‑related injuries or fatalities to Cal/OSHA (within the required reporting timeframe).
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 9082
A PEO like Key HR helps caterers by ensuring employees are correctly classified, maintaining accurate payroll records, and managing claims through coordinated reporting and preferred provider networks. Key HR can implement event‑specific safety programs (manual lifting training, burn protection, driver safety), return‑to‑work plans and loss‑control consulting to reduce claims frequency and lower your experience modification over time.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does class code 9082 apply if I operate a permanent kitchen and also do off‑site catering?
If the business operates both a fixed restaurant and a separate off‑site catering division, payroll should be split between the restaurant code and 9082 based on where work is performed. Misclassifying permanent restaurant payroll as 9082 can lead to audits and rate adjustments.
Are delivery drivers included in 9082?
Yes — drivers who transport prepared food and catering equipment for the catering business are typically included in 9082. If drivers perform significant unrelated commercial driving, a separate transportation classification may be appropriate.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp costs for caterers?
Focus on safe lifting techniques, provide thermal gloves and slip‑resistant shoes, secure vehicle loading procedures, heat‑illness prevention plans for outdoor events, and fast, documented return‑to‑work programs. Working with a PEO to improve training, claims handling and medical network access can materially lower premium over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 9082
- Classification
- Caterers - Not Restaurants
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.784 / $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 9082?
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