Workers Comp Class Code 6218 — Excavation & GradingCalifornia
Excavation, grading, and earthmoving work using heavy equipment for construction site preparation across California — from residential lot grading in the suburbs to large commercial site work.
How Have California Workers Comp Rates Changed Over the Last 5 Years?
Source: WCIRB pure premium rates. Actual carrier rates may vary significantly in California.
How Much Does California Workers Comp Cost for This Class Code?
⚠️ Pre-Underwriting Estimate: This is a preliminary estimate only. Final premium can change based on underwriting results, loss history, OSHA records, and carrier approval. CA rates vary significantly by carrier.
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What Jobs Are Covered Under This California Class Code?
- ▸ Excavator operator
- ▸ Grader operator
- ▸ Backhoe operator
- ▸ Earthmoving laborer
- ▸ Site prep foreman
What Are the Top Injury Risks for This California Class Code?
- ⚠ Heavy equipment accidents and rollovers
- ⚠ Trench collapse and cave-in
- ⚠ Struck by equipment on busy CA job sites
- ⚠ Underground utility strikes (gas, electric, water)
- ⚠ Silica dust exposure from grading dry soil
What Does a Real Workers Comp Claim Look Like for This California Class?
An excavator operator is injured when a trench collapses on a utility installation project in Bakersfield — crush injuries, emergency rescue, and long-term disability in California can result in $700,000+ in workers comp costs. Cal/OSHA's Title 8 Section 1541 requires protective systems for all excavations deeper than 5 feet, and trench collapse fatalities in California average 4–6 per year despite these requirements.
Why Does a PEO Make Sense for California Workers Comp in This Class?
California excavation contractors face a challenging insurance market: the combination of heavy equipment, trench hazards, and California's elevated medical costs makes standard carriers cautious about small excavation operations. PEO group programs aggregate excavation contractors across multiple projects and geographies, providing underwriters with the loss-spread needed to offer competitive rates to operators who would otherwise face non-standard market pricing.
CA Rate Context
At $5.54/100, California excavation rates reflect the heavy equipment risk and trench hazard exposure of earthmoving work. WCIRB's pure premium accounts for the severity of equipment-related injuries in California, where the average excavation injury claim costs 45% more than the national average due to the state's elevated medical costs and the complexity of equipment-related permanent disability assessments.