Workers Comp Class Code 0106 — Tree Trimming & Removal — Arborist
Florida NCCI Workers Comp Classification
FL NCCI Rate
$6.09
per $100 of payroll
Same-Day COI
Available
through PEO program
For code 0106, a worker earning $800/week costs just $48.71/week in workers comp through our PEO program.
FL NCCI Rate
$6.09/$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 0106?
NCCI class code 0106 covers Tree Trimming & Removal — Arborist 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 0106 is $6.09 per $100 of payroll, placing it in the high-risk tier.
Covers arborists and tree crews trimming, pruning, and removing trees. This is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States — tree workers are killed at a rate 40x higher than the average worker. Falls from trees, chainsaw injuries, and being struck by falling limbs are constant hazards. Most standard carriers refuse this code entirely.
Code 0106 is a non-construction classification. Florida requires workers' compensation for non-construction employers with 4 or more employees, though coverage is strongly recommended for businesses of any size to protect against catastrophic injury costs.
What Does This Rate Mean in Real Dollars?
At $18.92 per $100, a tree worker earning $800/week costs about $151.36/week in workers comp. For a 4-man tree crew, that's over $600/week. Traditional carriers almost always refuse this code — PEO is often the only path to coverage for tree service companies.
Rate History — Code 0106
5-Year Rate Trend
Code 0106 — Florida NCCI rates
Source: Florida NCCI rate filings 2020–2024
Florida NCCI rates for code 0106 have decreased from $21.50 to $18.92 over the past 5 years — a positive trend for employers.
Why PEO Makes Sense for Code 0106
No deposit. No audit. Same-day COI.
Tree service companies are among the hardest to place in all of workers comp. Standard carriers routinely reject applications or quote rates 2-3x above manual. Comp Ninjas's PEO program is specifically designed for hard-to-place industries like tree trimming. We write coverage that others won't, with same-day COI so you can start jobs immediately.
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 tree service company in Alachua County has 5 workers. A climber falls 40 feet from a tree while removing a storm-damaged oak. He suffers a spinal cord injury and requires surgery, months of rehabilitation, and long-term care. The workers comp claim exceeds $1.2 million. This is why Comp Ninjas exists — we cover the jobs others won't.
Common Job Titles Under Code 0106
Top Workers Comp Risks for Code 0106
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 0106
Florida Statute Chapter 440 governs workers' compensation requirements. For non-construction employers classified under code 0106, coverage is required when you have 4 or more employees. However, even with fewer than 4 employees, a serious workplace injury could result in significant personal liability.
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 0106
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 1910.269(r)
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution: Line-Clearance Tree-Trimming Operations. Requires qualified line-clearance arborists, minimum approach distances to energized conductors, job briefings, and use/inspection of dielectric tools and PPE when working near power lines.
OSHA 1910.67
Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms. Governs bucket truck use, including body harness and lanyard tie-off, safe operation on level surfaces with outriggers, daily inspections, and prohibitions on climbing on or out of the bucket.
OSHA 1910.140
Personal Fall Protection Systems. Sets performance, inspection, and use requirements for full-body harnesses, connectors, anchor points, and rope systems used when climbing or positioning in trees or in aerial lifts.
OSHA 1910.333
Selection and Use of Work Practices (Electrical). Requires de-energizing where feasible, safe approach distances, guarding of live parts, and training for employees working near exposed energized electrical parts during tree trimming.
OSHA 1910.242(a)
Hand and Portable Powered Tools and Equipment, General. Requires chainsaws and handheld cutting tools to be maintained in safe condition (guards, handles, chain brakes/kill switches) and used by trained employees with appropriate PPE.
Florida Stop-Work Order Cases — Code 0106
The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation (DFS) actively enforces coverage requirements. Below are representative enforcement cases involving businesses classified under code 0106.
Orange County (2023): DFS issued a stop-work order after observing a 4-person bucket-truck crew removing a large oak near secondary lines with no active workers’ comp. Investigators documented 12 days of non-compliance; penalty assessed using $1,000/day per employee ($48,000) plus twice the unpaid premium (approx. $1,170 based on $9,600 payroll at $6.089 rate) for a total of about $49,170.
Miami-Dade County (2022): A tree service using seven cash-paid ground workers for hurricane clean-up was found uninsured during a roadside inspection of their chipper and dump truck convoy. With 18 documented workdays and no coverage, DFS assessed $126,000 ($1,000/day/employee) plus twice the unpaid premium (approx. $3,376 on $27,720 payroll at $6.089 rate), totaling about $129,376.
Pinellas County (2024): An owner-exempt LLC was trimming palms with three ground workers but had no policy in force; a neighbor complaint triggered an on-site DFS visit and stop-work order. Ten days of work were verified; penalties included $30,000 ($1,000/day/employee) plus twice the unpaid premium (approx. $658 on $5,400 payroll at $6.089 rate) for a total near $30,658.
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 0106
Many standard insurance carriers restrict or decline coverage for businesses classified under code 0106. Understanding these declination triggers helps you find the right coverage path.
Regular exposure to energized conductors (line-clearance work) and climbing/removals above 40–80 feet; many admitted carriers will not write 0106 with utility proximity or require steep surcharges, certified arborists, and documented MAD procedures.
Frequent use of chainsaws, chippers, and rigging with potential for amputations, severe lacerations, struck‑by, and fall fatalities; carriers decline when there’s no formal training program specific to ANSI Z133 practices and OSHA 1910.269/1910.67 compliance documentation.
Heavy reliance on 1099 crews or uninsured subcontract climbers/groundsmen; underwriters anticipate employee/“statutory employee” exposure and premium leakage, so they decline unless subs carry equal limits and active workers’ comp verified monthly.
Storm-response and crane/aerial lift work (including grapple-saw cranes) with night operations and emergency call-outs; catastrophic loss potential and adverse loss history (EMR > 1.10 or recent severe claims) trigger declination or assigned-risk placement.
Common Workers Comp Audit Mistakes for Code 0106
Year-end workers comp audits frequently result in unexpected additional premiums for businesses classified under code 0106. These are the most common audit mistakes to avoid.
Classifying estimators/owners as clerical (8810) or outside sales (8742) even though they visit job sites, ride in bucket trucks, or occasionally assist with rigging — any field exposure pushes those wages to 0106 at audit.
Not keeping contemporaneous time records for employees who split duties between lawn maintenance (9102) and tree work (0106); without clear segregation by day and task, auditors assign all wages to 0106.
Paying ground crews in cash or using uninsured subcontract climbers/chippers; at audit, carriers add those labor costs as 0106 payroll and may include materials/cleanup invoices when labor and materials aren’t separated.
Trying to move stump grinding or debris hauling to a cheaper class; when performed as part of the same tree removal operation, auditors treat it as a common hazard and keep all wages in 0106. Overtime premiums are also backed down to straight time for premium calculation.
Experience Mod (EMR) & PEO Advantage
Code 0106 has low expected claim frequency but very high severity potential (falls from height, struck‑by limbs, chipper or chainsaw injuries), so even one serious loss can spike an EMR well above 1.20 for small arborist firms. In Florida, your NCCI mod (if you qualify) follows your FEIN into a PEO, but a strong PEO program helps reduce future mods through tighter driver/crew vetting, OSHA 1910.269/1910.67 compliance, and aggressive return‑to‑work and claims management. Comp Ninjas’ PEO partners also stabilize pricing and keep you out of the residual market while those improvements take effect.
Frequently Asked Questions — Code 0106
What is the workers comp rate for class code 0106 in Florida?
The Florida NCCI rate for class code 0106 (Tree Trimming & Removal — Arborist) is $6.09 per $100 of payroll. For a business with $150,000 in annual payroll, the estimated annual workers comp cost is $9,134.
Can I get same-day workers comp coverage for class code 0106?
Yes. Through Comp Ninjas's PEO program, most businesses classified under code 0106 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 0106 considered high-risk in Florida?
Code 0106 is classified as high-risk based on its NCCI rate of $6.09 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 0106?
A traditional policy for code 0106 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 0106, the annual cost would be approximately $9,134.
How do I switch to a PEO program if I already have a workers comp policy for code 0106?
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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