Hawaii - National Council on Compensation

Oil & Gas Well Drilling workers comp rate in Hawaii

The filed workers comp rate for class code 4825 (Oil & Gas Well Drilling) in Hawaii is $0.900 per $100 of payroll. On $500,000 of payroll, that is roughly $4,500 in base premium.

Rate per $100 $0.900
Rate type loss_cost
Authority National Council on Compensation
Effective 2024-01-01

Workers comp rules in Hawaii affecting code 4825

Hawaii uses NCCI for workers comp rate setting. Coverage is mandatory once an employer crosses the threshold of Employers with one or more employees, whether working full-time or part-time, are directly affected..

Max weekly benefit $1,192
PPD max 312 wk
Wage replacement 66.67%
Filing deadline 2 yr
Schedule credit cap 25%

Subcontractor coverage in Hawaii

General contractors are liable for the workers' compensation benefits of employees of uninsured subcontractors.

Owner-exclusion rules for code 4825

Hawaiiallows business owners to file an election excluding themselves from workers comp coverage. Excluding $80,000 of owner payroll at $0.900 saves $720 per year.

1099 contractor handling

Individuals classified as 1099 contractors may be deemed employees for workers' compensation purposes if they do not meet specific independent contractor criteria, primarily based on the 'right to control' test.

Penalty for failing to carry coverage

Penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to $10,000, stop-work orders, and potential criminal charges.

Audit window after policy expiration

After your policy expires, Hawaii's rating authority allows within 90 days of policy expiration for a premium audit. Code 4825 payroll discovered late can result in additional premium owed. Maintain segregated payroll records for at least the audit window plus one year.

Ways to lower your premium for code 4825 in Hawaii

Most employers paying for code 4825 could reduce annual premium by 10-30% by applying one or more of the levers below. Each is grounded in Hawaii-specific rules where applicable.

  • Experience modifier (EMR): A 0.85 EMR (well-managed) cuts $0.900 to $0.765 per $100, saving roughly $675 on a $500K payroll. A 1.25 EMR (loss-burdened) inflates it to $1.13. Build a lower EMR by reducing claim frequency (every claim hurts the modifier even if dollar cost is small).
  • Schedule credits: Hawaii permits up to 25% schedule credit at underwriter discretion. At $0.900, a 7% credit lowers your effective rate to $0.837 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 4825 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-4825 payroll with similar businesses in Hawaii, 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-4825 operations (especially construction), an OCIP or CCIP wrap can consolidate coverage at lower aggregate cost.

Common claim drivers in mining affecting code 4825

Rate filings for code 4825 reflect what actually drives claim cost for this occupation across NCCI's national experience and Hawaii's state-specific loss data. The largest drivers behind the $0.900 rate are typically:

  • Musculoskeletal strain. Lifting, twisting, and repetitive motion are the most-common claim type across industries.
  • Slips, trips, and falls. Floor and surface incidents account for 15-25% of typical workplace injuries.
  • Struck-by objects. Falling and moving objects produce significant medical-only and indemnity claims.

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 4825 in Hawaii?

The filed workers comp loss cost or rate for NCCI class code 4825 in Hawaii is $0.900 per $100 of payroll.

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

At $0.900 per $100, $500,000 yields a base premium of $4,500 before EMR and schedule credits. With an EMR of 0.85, effective rate is $0.765; with 1.25, it is $1.13.

Where else can I see code 4825?

UT has the cheapest filed rate ($0.190) and IL the highest ($1.21). Hawaii sits at the 95th percentile across 20 peer states.

Can I get a schedule credit on code 4825 in Hawaii?

Hawaii permits up to 25% schedule credit. At $0.900, a 10% credit lowers effective rate to $0.810 per $100.

Can I exclude myself from code 4825 coverage in Hawaii?

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