Class Code 9220
Cemetery Operation; Crematory Operation
Class code 9220 applies to cemetery and crematory operations in California, including burial, grounds maintenance, monument setting and operation of crematory retorts. The approved pure premium rate for September 1, 2026 is $5.527 per $100 of payroll, which is a base factor used to calculate workers' compensation costs for businesses in this category.
What Class Code 9220 Covers
This classification covers businesses that operate burial grounds, mausoleums, vault installation services, and on-site crematory facilities. Work includes excavation and preparation of graves, interment and disinterment, vault and liner installation, monument and headstone setting and repair, routine groundskeeping (mowing, pruning, irrigation), and operation and maintenance of crematory retorts including loading, combustion control, ash processing and recordkeeping. The code includes workers who handle human remains during transfer to the crematory, maintain crematory equipment, and perform associated administrative or cemetery upkeep duties when done by the cemetery employer. It does not typically cover funeral-home embalming or mortuary embalming services performed in a separate funeral home facility, which are classified differently.
Who It Applies To
- Cemetery operators and cemetery groundskeeping crews
- On-site crematory operators and technicians
- Grave diggers and heavy equipment operators (backhoes, trenchers)
- Monument and headstone installers employed by the cemetery
- Maintenance staff doing irrigation, tree work, and landscaping
- Administrative staff at cemetery offices who assist with interment logistics
Common Job Duties
- Excavating graves and preparing interment sites using shovels, trenchers and backhoes
- Operating crematory retorts: loading remains, setting combustion cycles, monitoring temperatures
- Installing and repairing vaults, liners, foundations and monuments
- Performing grounds maintenance: mowing, pruning, irrigation repair and tree trimming
- Cleaning, ash collection and processing, and preparing remains for urns or transfer
- Routine mechanical maintenance, inspection and servicing of heavy equipment and crematory systems
- Recordkeeping, chain-of-custody handling and coordination with families and funeral homes
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $5.527 Rate
The pure premium rate of $5.527 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB-approved base cost for expected losses in this class. To estimate premium, divide total payroll by 100 and multiply by 5.527 to get the pure premium; insurers then add expense loads, underwriting adjustments and apply the employer's experience modification to arrive at the final premium. Final cost is influenced by claims history (experience mod), location, payroll accuracy, safety programs, and how many higher- or lower-risk tasks are actually performed on-site.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Employers in this classification must comply with multiple Cal/OSHA requirements: excavation and trenching safety (protective systems, inspections, sloping/shoring) for grave digging; Heat Illness Prevention for outdoor grounds crews; the Bloodborne Pathogens standard where employees may contact bodily fluids; and respiratory protection and ventilation programs for crematory staff exposed to combustion products. Lockout/tagout, machine guarding and hearing conservation also commonly apply for equipment and retort maintenance. Local air district permitting and emission controls for crematories are separate environmental requirements but affect worker exposure and must be coordinated with safety programs.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 9220
A PEO like Key HR can centralize workers' compensation coverage, manage claims and coordinate return-to-work to reduce time-loss exposure and experience modification. Key HR provides targeted loss-control consulting for cemetery and crematory hazards — trenching best practices, confined-space and excavation training, respirator fit testing, bloodborne-pathogen programs, and heat-illness planning — and handles payroll reporting and audits to help ensure accurate classification and premium allocation.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does class code 9220 cover both cemetery groundskeeping and crematory operators?
Yes. WCIRB code 9220 covers cemetery operations and on-site crematory operation when those services are performed by the cemetery employer. Separate funeral-home embalming and mortuary services are typically classified under different codes.
What practical safety steps reduce claims and lower workers' comp costs for cemeteries?
Key measures include using protective systems for excavations, training and qualifications for heavy-equipment operators, mechanical aids and team lifts for heavy loads, a documented respirator program and air-monitoring for crematory staff, bloodborne-pathogen training and PPE, heat-illness prevention for outdoor crews, and a formal return-to-work program to limit indemnity costs.
Are crematory emissions and air permits part of Cal/OSHA compliance?
Air permits and emissions controls are regulated by California Air Resources Board and local air districts (environmental compliance), not Cal/OSHA, but those requirements affect worker exposure. Employers must integrate environmental controls with workplace respiratory protection, ventilation, and monitoring required under Cal/OSHA to protect employees.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 9220
- Classification
- Cemetery Operation; Crematory Operation
- Pure Premium Rate
- $5.527 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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