Class Code 9422
Road Districts Or Departments
Class Code 9422 covers public agencies and special road districts that maintain and operate streets and highways in California. It applies to crews performing routine road maintenance, drainage and signage work and heavy-equipment operations. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for 9422 is $2.507 per $100 of payroll.
What Class Code 9422 Covers
9422 applies to government road districts, county and city public works road maintenance departments, and special districts that perform ongoing care of public roadways rather than one-time construction projects. Typical operations include pothole and asphalt patching, shoulder and ditch maintenance, culvert and drainage cleaning, sign and guardrail installation or repair, road striping and minor paving or chip-seal operations. Classification covers employees who perform manual maintenance, operate graders, rollers, backhoes, dump trucks and sweepers, and crews who set up traffic control and flagging for live-road work. It does not generally cover contractors engaged in full-scale highway construction or new road building, which are classified under construction codes.
Who It Applies To
- County road crews and county public works departments
- City street maintenance or public works street divisions
- Special road and highway improvement districts (special districts)
- Municipal sign, striping, and traffic-control crews
- Employees operating municipal heavy equipment for road maintenance
Common Job Duties
- Pothole repair, cold patching and hot-mix asphalt repairs
- Shoulder grading, gravel spreading, and surface leveling
- Clearing/cleaning culverts, ditches and roadside drainage
- Installing and repairing signs, guardrails and delineators
- Traffic control setup and flagging for work zones
- Operating heavy equipment: graders, rollers, loaders, dump trucks
- Line striping, chip sealing, and small-scale resurfacing
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $2.507 Rate
The pure premium rate of $2.507 per $100 of payroll is the portion of your workers' comp cost that covers expected claim losses. Insurers multiply that rate by your payroll (divided by 100) to get the base loss cost; your final premium will be adjusted by your insurers expense factors, experience modification, policy deductible or retrospective adjustments, and any credits for safety programs.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Employers covered by 9422 must maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and comply with Cal/OSHA standards relevant to road work, including heat illness prevention for outdoor workers, trenching and excavation protections, and respiratory protection when workers are exposed to asphalt fumes or diesel exhaust. Flagging and temporary traffic control must follow MUTCD guidance and employers should document training, equipment maintenance, and PPE use to satisfy inspections.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 9422
A PEO like Key HR can help public agencies and special districts lower workers' comp costs by ensuring correct job classification and payroll reporting, implementing targeted safety programs (flagger training, heat-illness plans, respiratory protection), and managing claims and return-to-work plans to shorten lost-time. We provide compliance support for IIPP, training delivery, and access to loss-control consultants to reduce frequency and severity of claims.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 9422 cover private contractors who repave or build roads?
No — 9422 is intended for government road districts and public agencies that perform ongoing maintenance. Private contractors who perform construction or new road building are typically classified under construction-related codes. Classification depends on the nature of operations and payroll; Key HR can help verify correct classification.
What specific training should road district employers provide to reduce risk?
Essential training includes flagger and temporary traffic control, equipment operator certification, trenching/excavation and confined-space awareness, heat-illness prevention, Hazard Communication for asphalt and chemicals, respiratory protection, and regular PPE and lockout/tagout instruction. Documented training and refresher courses are critical for compliance.
How can we lower our workers' comp premium under this code?
Focus on preventing claims through documented safety programs, proactive equipment maintenance, effective traffic-control procedures, and early return-to-work policies. Accurate job classification and payroll reporting, plus active claims management and a targeted loss-control plan from a PEO, will help reduce your experience modification and overall premium.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 9422
- Classification
- Road Districts Or Departments
- Pure Premium Rate
- $2.507 / $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 9422?
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