Class Code 9426
Septic/Portable Toilet Services
Class Code 9426 applies to businesses that provide septic tank pumping, portable restroom rental/servicing, and related waste-hauling operations. The approved pure premium rate for California effective Sept 1, 2026 is $6.826 per $100 of payroll, which reflects the underlying claim costs for this work and matters when budgeting workers' compensation costs.
What Class Code 9426 Covers
This classification covers employees who maintain, service, clean, pump or haul sewage and septage from septic tanks, portable toilets, holding tanks and similar wastewater systems. Included are technicians who operate vacuum trucks and pumpers, attendants who clean and restock portable restrooms on-site, drivers who deliver and remove units, and workers who perform disposal and transfer to treatment facilities. The work often includes connecting and disconnecting hoses, operating pumps and vacuum equipment, handling chemical deodorizers and absorbents, and loading/unloading portable units. It does not generally cover contractors whose primary business is construction excavation unless they also perform routine septic/portable toilet service as described.
Who It Applies To
- Portable restroom rental companies (service and maintenance crews)
- Septic tank pumping and waste-hauling businesses
- Event sanitation providers (on-site attendants and service techs)
- Municipal or park restroom service divisions that pump/clean portable units
- Drivers and vacuum-truck operators who transport liquid waste
Common Job Duties
- Operating vacuum trucks and liquid pumps to remove sewage from tanks and portable units
- Cleaning, sanitizing, deodorizing and restocking portable restrooms
- Connecting, disconnecting and managing hoses and fittings
- Transporting units and waste to permitted disposal or treatment sites
- Performing routine maintenance on pump systems, valves and hoses
- Recording service details, swapping units, and customer site setup/teardown
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $6.826 Rate
The pure premium rate of $6.826 per $100 of payroll represents the portion of premium that pays expected claim costs (medical and indemnity) for this class in California. Insurers multiply your payroll for employees in Code 9426 by the rate to calculate the base premium before applying your experience modification, policy adjustments, minimum premiums, credits, or deductible programs. Final premiums vary with your actual payroll, loss history (experience mod), policy endorsements, and any premium discounts or retrospective plans.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements commonly apply to septic and portable toilet operations: permit-required confined space procedures for tank entry, a written respiratory protection program when workers face airborne contaminants, hazardous communication for chemicals used to clean and deodorize units, and an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) with training and PPE. Employers must also follow heat illness prevention rules for outdoor service work and ensure vehicle safety and traffic controls when servicing units roadside.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 9426
A PEO like Key HR can help employers in this classification by correctly assigning payroll to class code 9426, managing workers' comp claims and return-to-work plans to limit indemnity exposure, and delivering targeted safety training (confined space, bloodborne pathogen awareness, PPE, driving safety). Key HR can also centralize OSHA recordkeeping, provide access to loss-control consultants, coordinate vaccinations or medical monitoring, and bundle payroll and claims data to improve experience modification outcomes.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are portable toilet attendants and cleaners covered under Class Code 9426?
Yes. Attendants who service, clean, restock and maintain portable toilets are typically classified under 9426 because their duties involve handling sewage, chemicals, and equipment used in portable sanitation.
What steps reduce workers' comp claims and premiums for septic/portable toilet operations?
Implementing confined space procedures, mandatory PPE (gloves, face protection, chemical-resistant suits), vaccination and medical monitoring for biological exposures, driver defensive training, routine vehicle maintenance, and robust return-to-work programs all reduce injuries and claim costs that drive premiums down over time.
Do employees who only drive units but do not handle waste fall under the same code?
Drivers who transport portable units and also perform hookups, hookups, pumping or cleaning are usually included in 9426. If a driver only delivers empty units and never handles waste or service tasks, payroll allocation should reflect that separated work activity and may qualify for a different classification.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 9426
- Classification
- Septic/Portable Toilet Services
- Pure Premium Rate
- $6.826 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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