Kentucky - National Council on Compensation

Malt House Operation workers comp rate in Kentucky

The filed workers comp rate for class code 2111 (Malt House Operation) in Kentucky is $0.890 per $100 of payroll. On $500,000 of payroll, that is roughly $4,450 in base premium.

Rate per $100 $0.890
Rate type loss_cost
Authority National Council on Compensation
Effective 2024-01-01

Workers comp rules in Kentucky affecting code 2111

Kentucky uses NCCI for workers comp rate setting. Coverage is mandatory once an employer crosses the threshold of Employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance..

Max weekly benefit $1,231.22
TTD max 520 wk
Wage replacement 66.67%
Filing deadline 2 yr
Schedule credit cap 25%

Subcontractor coverage in Kentucky

Principal contractors are generally liable for the workers' compensation coverage of their subcontractors' employees if the subcontractor does not carry their own coverage.

Owner-exclusion rules for code 2111

Kentuckyallows business owners to file an election excluding themselves from workers comp coverage. Excluding $80,000 of owner payroll at $0.890 saves $712 per year.

1099 contractor handling

Kentucky uses common law factors to determine if a worker is an employee or independent contractor; misclassification can lead to penalties.

Penalty for failing to carry coverage

Penalties for non-compliance include fines, stop-work orders, and potential criminal charges, and employers may be directly sued by injured workers.

Ways to lower your premium for code 2111 in Kentucky

Most employers paying for code 2111 could reduce annual premium by 10-30% by applying one or more of the levers below. Each is grounded in Kentucky-specific rules where applicable.

  • Experience modifier (EMR): A 0.85 EMR (well-managed) cuts $0.890 to $0.756 per $100, saving roughly $668 on a $500K payroll. A 1.25 EMR (loss-burdened) inflates it to $1.11. Build a lower EMR by reducing claim frequency (every claim hurts the modifier even if dollar cost is small).
  • Schedule credits: Kentucky permits up to 25% schedule credit at underwriter discretion. At $0.890, a 7% credit lowers your effective rate to $0.828 per $100.
  • Deductible plans: Per-claim or aggregate deductibles ($1K-$10K typical) cut premium 5-15%. Best fit when historical claim count is low.
  • Reclassify payroll: Code 2111 may be applied too broadly. If a portion of payroll is genuinely clerical and properly segregated, that portion can be reported as code 8810 (clerical) at $0.10-$0.30 per $100.
  • PEO or staff leasing: A Professional Employer Organization can pool your code-2111 payroll with similar businesses in Kentucky, often securing better blended rates than your standalone EMR can achieve.
  • Dividend or retro plans: Some carriers offer participating policies that return a dividend if your loss ratio stays below a target. Best for employers with predictably good loss experience.
  • Wrap-up policy for projects: For larger code-2111 operations (especially construction), an OCIP or CCIP wrap can consolidate coverage at lower aggregate cost.

Common claim drivers in manufacturing affecting code 2111

Rate filings for code 2111 reflect what actually drives claim cost for this occupation across NCCI's national experience and Kentucky's state-specific loss data. The largest drivers behind the $0.890 rate are typically:

  • Caught-in machinery. Lockout/tagout failures produce high-severity, low-frequency claims that dominate rate filings.
  • Repetitive motion. Carpal tunnel and tendinitis from production-line work are top frequency drivers.
  • Material-handling strains. Lifting, twisting, and pulling injuries are pervasive across all manufacturing codes.

Targeting these in your safety program produces the largest EMR improvement. Most claim-frequency reductions come from controls on the top two drivers above; severity reductions require return-to-work programs and aggressive medical management.

FAQ

What is the workers comp rate for code 2111 in Kentucky?

The filed workers comp loss cost or rate for NCCI class code 2111 in Kentucky is $0.890 per $100 of payroll.

How much would I pay on $500,000 payroll?

At $0.890 per $100, $500,000 yields a base premium of $4,450 before EMR and schedule credits. With an EMR of 0.85, effective rate is $0.756; with 1.25, it is $1.11.

Where else can I see code 2111?

UT has the cheapest filed rate ($0.550) and NJ the highest ($7.51). Kentucky sits at the 17th percentile across 23 peer states.

Can I get a schedule credit on code 2111 in Kentucky?

Kentucky permits up to 25% schedule credit. At $0.890, a 10% credit lowers effective rate to $0.801 per $100.

Can I exclude myself from code 2111 coverage in Kentucky?

Yes. Kentucky allows business owners to file an election excluding themselves from workers comp coverage on their own payroll.