Workers Comp Class Code 3634 — Welding — Shop
Florida NCCI Workers Comp Classification
FL NCCI Rate
$1.22
per $100 of payroll
Same-Day COI
Available
through PEO program
For code 3634, a worker earning $800/week costs just $9.73/week in workers comp through our PEO program.
FL NCCI Rate
$1.22/$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 3634?
NCCI class code 3634 covers Welding — Shop 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 3634 is $1.22 per $100 of payroll, placing it in the high-risk tier.
Covers welders working in shops fabricating metal components. At $5.84/$100, a welder earning $900/week costs $52.56/week in workers comp.
Code 3634 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 $5.84/$100, a welder earning $900/week costs $52.56/week. Annual cost for $150,000 payroll: ~$8,760.
Rate History — Code 3634
5-Year Rate Trend
Code 3634 — Florida NCCI rates
Source: Florida NCCI rate filings 2020–2024
Florida NCCI rates for code 3634 have decreased from $6.56 to $5.84 over the past 5 years — a positive trend for employers.
Why PEO Makes Sense for Code 3634
No deposit. No audit. Same-day COI.
Welding shops need flexible coverage. 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 welding shop in Escambia County with 6 welders. A welder suffers arc flash eye injury — $12,000 claim for treatment.
Common Job Titles Under Code 3634
Top Workers Comp Risks for Code 3634
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 3634
Florida Statute Chapter 440 governs workers' compensation requirements. For non-construction employers classified under code 3634, 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 3634
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 29 CFR 1910.252
Welding, Cutting, and Brazing (General Requirements): Requires fire watch when welding near combustibles, proper ventilation for welding fumes, screens/curtains to protect from arc flash, and housekeeping to prevent fires in shop welding areas under class code 3634.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.253
Oxygen-Fuel Gas Welding and Cutting: Governs storage and handling of oxygen/acetylene cylinders in a welding shop, including valve protection caps, regulator/hose maintenance, and required separation of fuel gas and oxidizers.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.254
Arc Welding and Cutting: Requires safe condition of electrode holders and cables, proper grounding, and shields for arc welding bays commonly used in 3634 shop operations (MIG, TIG, SMAW).
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147
Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout): Applies when shop welders service or set up powered equipment (positioners, turntables, shears, and ventilation systems) to prevent unexpected energization during maintenance.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134
Respiratory Protection: Requires a written program, medical evaluations, and fit testing when engineering controls don’t adequately control welding fumes (e.g., stainless steel, galvanized work) in a welding shop.
Florida Stop-Work Order Cases — Code 3634
The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation (DFS) actively enforces coverage requirements. Below are representative enforcement cases involving businesses classified under code 3634.
Hillsborough County (2022): A Tampa 3634 welding shop operated nine months with five welders and no workers’ comp. Florida DFS calculated $7,900 in unpaid premium; assessed twice that ($15,800) plus $1,000 per day per employee for six days until coverage was secured ($30,000), totaling about $45,800 in penalties.
Broward County (2023): A Pompano Beach fabrication/welding shop treated seven full-time welders as 1099s and carried no valid policy. DFS imputed payroll to class code 3634, estimated $12,400 in unpaid premium; assessed $24,800 (2x) plus $1,000/day per employee for nine days ($63,000), for a total penalty near $87,800 and a Stop-Work Order until coverage bound.
Duval County (2024): A Jacksonville welding shop let coverage lapse for four months while four shop welders continued hot work. DFS estimated $3,200 in unpaid premium; assessed $6,400 (2x) plus $1,000/day per employee for ten days to reach compliance ($40,000), for an approximate total of $46,400 in fines.
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 3634
Many standard insurance carriers restrict or decline coverage for businesses classified under code 3634. Understanding these declination triggers helps you find the right coverage path.
Significant hot-work fire load in 3634 shops (oxy-fuel gas, arc welding, slag/embers) without automatic sprinklers or a documented hot-work program; carriers see unacceptable fire severity potential.
Mixed operations: the shop routinely sends welders offsite (exposure belonging in 3365) but can’t segregate payroll or work records, so underwriters fear uncontrolled field welding exposure and decline or surcharge heavily.
Poor ventilation/fume controls for stainless/galvanized welding (hex-chrome, manganese) and no written respiratory program per 1910.134; carriers worry about long-tail illness claims and cumulative trauma.
Adverse loss history typical of welding shops—flash burns, eye injuries, grinder lacerations, and occasional fires—showing high claim frequency that will spike the mod factor, prompting standard markets to decline.
Common Workers Comp Audit Mistakes for Code 3634
Year-end workers comp audits frequently result in unexpected additional premiums for businesses classified under code 3634. These are the most common audit mistakes to avoid.
Failing to split payroll between shop welding (3634) and any mobile/outside welding (usually 3365). Without time/payroll segregation, auditors move all wages to the higher-rated exposure, creating a large additional premium.
Using 1099 welders/helpers in the shop without valid Florida workers’ comp COIs. At audit, DFS/NCCI rules treat them as employees and their pay is picked up into 3634 payroll, often for two prior years.
Classifying shop leads/foremen who spend time on the floor as clerical (8810) or as machinists (3632). Auditors reclassify those wages back to 3634, plus apply penalties for misclassification.
Owner/officer working on the shop floor assumes they’re exempt but never filed the Florida DWC-251 (non-construction) election. The auditor adds the officer at Florida’s minimum/maximum payroll, inflating 3634 premium.
Experience Mod (EMR) & PEO Advantage
For 3634 welding shops, frequent medical-only claims—flash burns, eye injuries, small fires, and grinder cuts—can quickly drive up the experience mod because NCCI weights claim frequency heavily. A PEO program helps control the mod by tightening hot-work procedures, ventilation and PPE use, rapid nurse triage, and light-duty return-to-work—cutting both the number and cost of claims while keeping you eligible for competitive rates.
Frequently Asked Questions — Code 3634
What is the workers comp rate for class code 3634 in Florida?
The Florida NCCI rate for class code 3634 (Welding — Shop) is $1.22 per $100 of payroll. For a business with $150,000 in annual payroll, the estimated annual workers comp cost is $1,824.
Can I get same-day workers comp coverage for class code 3634?
Yes. Through Comp Ninjas's PEO program, most businesses classified under code 3634 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 3634 considered high-risk in Florida?
Code 3634 is classified as high-risk based on its NCCI rate of $1.22 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 3634?
A traditional policy for code 3634 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 3634, the annual cost would be approximately $1,824.
How do I switch to a PEO program if I already have a workers comp policy for code 3634?
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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