Class Code 9620
Funeral Directors
Class Code 9620 covers California funeral directors and the hands‑on mortuary operations that support funeral services. This classification includes embalming, removal and transport of decedents, and other mortuary tasks — the WCIRB pure premium is $4.064 per $100 of payroll (effective Sept 1, 2026). Employers in this field need accurate classification because the work combines office duties with hazardous hands‑on tasks that drive claims and loss costs.
What Class Code 9620 Covers
This class applies to businesses whose primary operations are funeral homes and mortuaries where employees perform body removal, embalming, restorative art, preparation for viewing, and on‑site funeral direction. It includes staff who handle decedent transfer and conveyance in hearses or transfer vans, prepare and maintain refrigeration units, and perform sanitation and chemical handling specific to mortuary practice. Clerical or purely administrative employees working offsite or in separate office operations are typically classified separately. The classification focuses on the hands‑on, exposure‑prone duties that distinguish mortuary work from general retail or office operations.
Who It Applies To
- Licensed funeral directors and morticians performing embalming and restorative work
- Embalmers and restorative artists who prepare remains for viewing
- Hearse and transfer vehicle drivers employed by the funeral home
- Removal teams who recover and transport decedents from hospitals or residences
- Funeral home staff who operate refrigeration, embalming equipment, and sterilization
Common Job Duties
- Embalming, arterial injection, and restorative cosmetology of remains
- Removal and transfer of decedents from scenes, hospitals, and private residences
- Lifting, turning, and positioning decedents on gurneys and embalming tables
- Operating hearses, transfer vans, and on‑site transport of remains
- Preparing bodies for viewing, dressing, casketing, and cosmetic restoration
- Cleaning, maintaining, and disposing of contaminated instruments and work areas
- Completing death certificates, permits, and coordination with cemeteries or crematoria
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $4.064 Rate
The WCIRB pure premium of $4.064 per $100 of payroll represents the estimated expected claim costs per $100 of payroll before insurer expenses and adjustments. To calculate expected pure loss cost, multiply total payroll for employees in Code 9620 by 0.04064. The final premium an employer pays also reflects their insurer's expense constants, experience modification (XMOD), policy deductibles, audit adjustments, and any PEO or group ratings that may apply.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Funeral homes must comply with Cal/OSHA standards that apply to mortuary work, including the Bloodborne Pathogens standard (exposure control plans, training, HBV vaccination offer) and Hazard Communication (SDS access and chemical labeling for embalming agents). Respiratory protection, medical surveillance, and engineering controls (local exhaust/ventilation) are important where formaldehyde or aerosolizing procedures occur; a written respiratory protection program and fit testing may be required. Employers should also maintain PPE, housekeeping, and safe lifting procedures consistent with Cal/OSHA guidance.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 9620
A PEO like Key HR helps funeral homes by centralizing workers' comp administration, offering industry‑specific safety programs (exposure control plans, formaldehyde training, safe transfer protocols), and managing claims and return‑to‑work to limit indemnity costs. Key HR can assist with payroll classification accuracy, group purchasing for insurance, and proactive loss‑control consulting to help lower experience modification factors and overall cost of coverage.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Are embalmers and hearse drivers both covered under Class Code 9620?
Yes. Employees who perform embalming, restorative work, removal and transfer of decedents, and funeral home‑operated transport (hearses/transfer vans) are typically assigned to 9620 because they perform hands‑on mortuary operations with exposure risks.
Do office or administrative staff at a funeral home belong in 9620?
No—purely clerical or administrative employees who do not perform hands‑on mortuary tasks are usually classified separately (for example, clerical office codes) which carry a much lower pure premium. Accurate payroll segregation at audit time can materially reduce premiums.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp claims and premiums for funeral homes?
Implement an exposure control plan for bloodborne pathogens, provide formaldehyde/Hazard Communication training and ventilation, enforce PPE and sharps handling protocols, use mechanical lifts and team‑lift procedures, and maintain post‑injury return‑to‑work programs. Consistent documentation and prompt reporting of incidents helps control claim severity and experience modification.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 9620
- Classification
- Funeral Directors
- Pure Premium Rate
- $4.064 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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