Workers’ Comp for California Construction & Utility Contractors
Line work, pipeline, steel erection, sewer and heavy civil are classes most carriers won’t write. If your company has 20 to 500 employees, you’re on State Fund by default or were non-renewed, and you think your safety record should be worth more than your premium shows — we should talk.
This is built for you if…
- You’re a California construction or utility contractor with 20 to 500 employees
- You pay $50,000 or more a year in workers’ comp
- Your work is high-hazard: heights, depths, energized lines, heavy civil or underground
- You’re on State Fund by default, were non-renewed, have a high X-Mod — or just think you’re paying too much
Why Hard-to-Place Contractors End Up Overpaying
California has no assigned-risk pool for workers’ comp. When standard carriers decline a class — and most decline line work, pipeline, steel erection, sewer and heavy civil — contractors often land with State Fund and stay there for years because no one shops the account again. Meanwhile, the company may have built a strong safety program that its premium never reflects.
How Specialty Markets Look at Your Account
Standard carriers often decide on class code alone. The specialty markets we work with for high-hazard classes underwrite the company in front of them: your safety program, training and certifications, loss frequency versus severity, how your experience mod is trending, and how claims are managed when they happen. A contractor that has invested in safety can be priced on that record instead of the worst operators in its class.
That doesn’t mean every account saves money — and if your current program is the right fit, we’ll tell you. But if your premium hasn’t moved after years of clean operations, it’s worth a second look.
Classes We Place
Heavy Civil & Street/Road
Paving, grading, excavation, railroad and metal bridge construction — 5506, 5507, 6218/6220, 7855.
See codes & details →Power Line & Telecom
Power line, aerial telecom, underground conduit, telecom and cable companies, cable manufacturing — 7538, 7601, 6325, 7600, 4470.
See codes & details →Fiber Optic & Underground Telecom
Fiber optic installation, directional boring, aerial telecom and fiber splicing — 6325, 7601, 5195.
See codes & details →Pipeline & Mains
Oil and gas pipeline, gas mains and water mains — 6233, 6315/6316.
See codes & details →Structural Steel & Iron Erection
Steel erection, metal bridges and steel structure painting — 5040.
See codes & details →Sewer & Underground
Sewer construction, mains, excavation and conduit — 6307/6308, 6315/6316, 6218/6220, 6325.
See codes & details →High X-Mod Specialty Trades
Electrical, plumbing, carpentry, millwright and life-safety systems with a high mod or non-renewal.
See codes & details →Currently insured with State Fund? Read Leaving State Fund: workers’ comp options for California contractors.
What We Need to Shop Your Account
- Completed ACORD 130 workers’ comp application (we can help you fill it out)
- Your current experience mod worksheet from WCIRB
- 3–5 years of currently valued loss runs
- Your expiring policy and premium, plus payroll by class code
- Your written safety program or IIPP, if you have one
Missing something? Start anyway — with your authorization we can request loss runs and your mod worksheet for you.
Common Questions
Which classes do you place?
Construction and utility classes including power and aerial line construction, underground fiber and telecom, telecom and cable companies, wire and cable manufacturing, conduit, oil and gas pipeline, gas and water mains, sewer, street and road, excavation, railroad, structural steel, and specialty trades with a high experience mod.
Is there a minimum size?
This program is built for contractors with 20 to 500 employees and $50,000 or more in annual workers’ comp premium.
Is there work you don’t place?
Yes. Asbestos abatement, oil well drilling, underground mining, explosives work and staffing/PEO arrangements are outside this program.
Are these carriers licensed in California?
Yes. All California workers’ comp is written by insurers admitted to write it in the state; any carrier we place you with is licensed to do so.
Request a Workers’ Comp Review
For California contractors paying $50,000+ a year in workers’ comp.
Class codes shown are California WCIRB classifications. Your actual classification depends on your operations and payroll records. Coverage is subject to underwriting; general information, not legal advice.