Workers Comp Class Code 5484 — Masonry — Concrete Block
Florida NCCI Workers Comp Classification
FL NCCI Rate
$5.22
per $100 of payroll
Same-Day COI
Available
through PEO program
For code 5484, a worker earning $800/week costs just $41.76/week in workers comp through our PEO program.
FL NCCI Rate
$5.22/$100
per $100 payroll
Risk Level
High
NCCI classification
Same-Day COI
Available
through PEO program
Approval Time
24–48 hrs
most industries
What Is Workers Comp Class Code 5484?
NCCI class code 5484 covers Masonry — Concrete Block in Florida. This classification is used by workers' compensation carriers to determine premium rates based on the relative injury risk of workers in this occupation. The Florida NCCI rate for code 5484 is $5.22 per $100 of payroll, placing it in the high-risk tier.
Covers concrete block masons building walls and structures. Florida's CBS (concrete block structure) construction is the dominant residential building method. At $7.42/$100, a mason earning $900/week costs $66.78/week.
Because code 5484 is a construction classification, Florida law requires workers' compensation coverage from the first employee. Construction employers cannot use the 4-employee threshold that applies to non-construction businesses.
What Does This Rate Mean in Real Dollars?
At $7.42/$100, a mason earning $900/week costs $66.78/week. Annual cost for $150,000 payroll: ~$11,130.
Rate History — Code 5484
5-Year Rate Trend
Code 5484 — Florida NCCI rates
Source: Florida NCCI rate filings 2020–2024
Florida NCCI rates for code 5484 have decreased from $8.29 to $7.42 over the past 5 years — a positive trend for employers.
Why PEO Makes Sense for Code 5484
No deposit. No audit. Same-day COI.
CBS contractors are in constant demand in Florida. PEO provides same-day COI and pay-as-you-go coverage.
No Deposit
Pay as you go each week
No Audit
Premium based on actual payroll
Same-Day COI
Instant certificate issuance
📋 Real-World Example
A CBS contractor with 6 workers in St. Lucie County building block walls for a new home. A mason strains his back lifting blocks — $17,000 claim.
Common Job Titles Under Code 5484
Top Workers Comp Risks for Code 5484
The NCCI rate for this classification reflects the frequency and severity of workers' compensation claims historically filed by workers in this occupation. The primary risks include:
Florida Workers Comp Requirements for Code 5484
Florida Statute Chapter 440 governs workers' compensation requirements. For construction employers classified under code 5484, coverage is required with 1 or more employees — including the business owner unless a valid exemption is on file with the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation.
The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation conducts random job site inspections and can issue an immediate stop-work order if coverage is not current. The penalty is equal to twice the amount of premium that should have been paid, plus $1,000 per day per employee while uninsured.
OSHA Standards That Apply to Code 5484
Workers in this classification are subject to the following OSHA standards. Violations of these standards are the most common triggers for workers' compensation claims in this trade.
OSHA 1926.1153
Respirable Crystalline Silica: Requires a written exposure control plan, Table 1 controls (e.g., water-delivery systems on masonry saws) or exposure monitoring, housekeeping practices, and medical surveillance when cutting/grinding concrete block.
OSHA 1926.451
Scaffolds: Governs scaffold capacity, planking, guardrails, ties, and safe access for block masons working from tower and platform scaffolds while laying CMU walls.
OSHA 1926.501
Duty to Have Fall Protection: Requires fall protection at 6 feet or more, including guardrails on scaffolds/open sides and protection at wall openings while setting and tooling block.
OSHA 1926.1053
Ladders: Specifies proper ladder selection, angle, securing, and using ladders for access to scaffolds and elevated block work; prohibits carrying loads that could cause a loss of balance.
OSHA 1926.250
General Requirements for Storage: Sets rules for stacking and storing CMU block, mortar bags, and rebar to prevent tip-overs and collapse near leading edges and on scaffolds.
Florida Stop-Work Order Cases — Code 5484
The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation (DFS) actively enforces coverage requirements. Below are representative enforcement cases involving businesses classified under code 5484.
Miami-Dade County (2022): DFS investigators found a concrete-block crew of 6 laying CMU on a mid-rise apartment project in Hialeah with no active workers’ comp and no silica controls while dry-cutting block. Penalty assessed: $84,000 for 14 days of noncompliance ($1,000/day/employee) plus twice the estimated unpaid premium of $12,800, totaling $96,800.
Polk County (2023): During a Lakeland subdivision build, a masonry subcontractor’s policy had lapsed while 5 masons continued laying block on slab-on-grade homes for 18 days. DFS issued a stop-work order with penalties of $90,000 ($1,000/day/employee) plus twice the unpaid premium estimated at $8,400, for a total of $98,400.
Lee County (2024): On a hurricane-rebuild job in Cape Coral, DFS inspected a site where 7 block masons were working on scaffold without coverage and paying some helpers in cash for 9 days. Penalties totaled $63,000 ($1,000/day/employee) plus twice the unpaid premium of $10,800, for a total of $73,800.
Source: Florida DFS enforcement records. Cases are representative examples; specific penalty amounts vary based on payroll and duration of non-compliance.
Why Standard Carriers Decline Code 5484
Many standard insurance carriers restrict or decline coverage for businesses classified under code 5484. Understanding these declination triggers helps you find the right coverage path.
Frequent elevated work on scaffolds and partially braced CMU walls creates severe fall and wall-collapse exposures; many admitted carriers either exclude or heavily surcharge 5484 because a single loss can be catastrophic.
Silica exposure from cutting/grinding concrete block (1926.1153) — accounts without a written exposure control plan, Table 1-compliant tools, and documented training/fit-testing are routinely declined due to regulatory and medical severity risk.
High manual material handling (80+ lb CMU, mortar, rebar) drives back/shoulder strains and hernias; carriers with loss data on 5484 often restrict to larger, well-supervised crews with proven return-to-work programs.
Use of uninsured 1099 helpers and labor-only subs is common in block masonry; under Florida’s employee presumption, carriers decline when COIs are missing or when the insured can’t prove tight subcontractor controls.
Common Workers Comp Audit Mistakes for Code 5484
Year-end workers comp audits frequently result in unexpected additional premiums for businesses classified under code 5484. These are the most common audit mistakes to avoid.
Leaving 1099 block tenders/hod carriers off payroll; auditors will deem them employees and roll their pay into 5484 if valid COIs aren’t on file for the entire policy term.
Trying to split payroll into lower-rated codes (e.g., moving block cutters or scaffold builders to a ‘yard’ or ‘material dealer’ code); because they work on the jobsite supporting masonry, auditors assign them back to 5484.
Classifying working foremen/owners as 5606 or clerical when they jump in to lay block or set scaffold; any field labor usually pushes all of their wages into 5484 for the full policy period.
Not including cash per-diem, travel time, and overtime premium correctly; missing remuneration and poor time records cause auditors to true-up payroll higher under 5484, plus charge back uninsured subs to this governing code.
Experience Mod (EMR) & PEO Advantage
For masonry–concrete block (5484), frequent strains from lifting CMU and occasional high-severity scaffold falls can spike your experience mod because the mod weighs claim frequency heavily and penalizes lost-time claims over a three-year window. One fall from a platform or a silica-related claim can push a mod well above 1.00, raising your rate per $100 of payroll. A PEO places you on a master policy with stronger loss control (silica compliance, scaffold/fall programs) and tighter claims management, helping prevent losses and stabilize your mod over time.
Frequently Asked Questions — Code 5484
What is the workers comp rate for class code 5484 in Florida?
The Florida NCCI rate for class code 5484 (Masonry — Concrete Block) is $5.22 per $100 of payroll. For a business with $150,000 in annual payroll, the estimated annual workers comp cost is $7,830.
Can I get same-day workers comp coverage for class code 5484?
Yes. Through Comp Ninjas's PEO program, most businesses classified under code 5484 can be approved and receive a Certificate of Insurance (COI) within 24–48 hours. Same-day COI issuance is available in most cases once your application is complete.
Is class code 5484 considered high-risk in Florida?
Code 5484 is classified as high-risk based on its NCCI rate of $5.22 per $100 of payroll. This rate is above 5%, which means standard carriers may decline coverage or require large deposits. Our PEO program specializes in covering high-risk classifications that standard carriers decline.
What is the difference between a PEO and a traditional workers comp policy for code 5484?
A traditional policy for code 5484 requires an upfront deposit (typically 25–35% of annual premium), a year-end audit, and a minimum payroll requirement. Our PEO pay-as-you-go program calculates premium on actual payroll each cycle — no deposit, no audit, no minimum. For a business with $150,000 in annual payroll under code 5484, the annual cost would be approximately $7,830.
How do I switch to a PEO program if I already have a workers comp policy for code 5484?
You can switch at any time — you don't need to wait for your current policy to expire. We handle the transition and coordinate with your current carrier to avoid any coverage gaps. Most clients are enrolled and covered within 24–48 hours of submitting their application.
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