As discussed in multiple agent articles before this one, there have been quite a few changes in the Florida workers’ compensation rates over the past couple of years. In 2009, July 1st will mark the third rate change (the first rate change was on January 1st and another one was effective April 1st). On Wednesday, July 1st, 2009, the following workers compensation rates for landscapers will go into effect and all current policies issued with the April 1st rates will be endorsed to reflect this change. Here are the newest 2009 workers comp rates for landscapers:

• 0042 – This classification is applied to employees that are involved in the installation of landscapes. This classification cannot be used in Florida with employees classified as 9102 unless the operations are conducted by separate work crews. If the work is not separated, then all of the employee payroll must be classified as 0042 since it is the higher rated classification code. To read more details about this classification, please refer to the agent article on class code 0042. The current rate for class code 0042 is 7.11 dollars for every 100 dollars of remuneration.
• 9102 – This classification code is assigned to employees that maintain lawns and gardens. This is your standard lawn maintenance and classification used by most landscaping businesses to rate their workers’ compensation premiums. To read more details about this classification, please refer to the agent article on class code 9102. The current rate for class code 9102 is 4.20 dollars for every 100 dollars of remuneration.
• 0106 – This classification code is used for tree trimmers and specifically it is used for those employees or businesses whose operations involve leaving the ground to trim trees. When ladders, bucket trucks, and any other equipment assists employees to get their feet of the ground to prune or trim trees, then this classification is applied to the remuneration of that job. It also includes the chipping and cleanup activities associated with the tree trimming. To read more details about this classification, please refer to the agent article on class code 0106. The current rate for class code 0106 is 12.95 dollars for every 100 dollars of remuneration.
• 5183 – This classification code is applied to employees of landscaping businesses that engage in the installation or repair of underground lawn sprinkler systems. For a more detailed description of this classification code, please refer to the agent article on class code 5183. The current rate for class code 5183 is 5.14 dollars for every 100 dollars of remuneration.

The employees and operations of most landscaping businesses are classified into the codes listed above. Depending on the nature of work performed, other classification codes may apply to the business. Class code 8810 (rate: 0.28) is used for employees that only do clerical work and 8742 (rate: 0.49) is used for those employees that only have sales duties. Class code 0005 (rate: 5.35) is used for landscapers with employees engaged in nursery operations. We are available to provide you with more information about these classifications and how your own employees should be classified. Feel free to call our office to discuss this rate change and to have one of our agents quote your workers compensation policy.

The Agent Articles section of BearWiseLandscapers.com allows our insurance agents to provide practical information for landscapers. These agents can also obtain quotes and establish a custom insurance program for your landscaping business through our access to a variety of insurance carriers. This agent article is filed under 4 Workers' Compensation, Did you know?, and you can follow comments to it through the RSS 2.0 feed. Feel free to leave your own response below: