Workers comp rates for code 5473: Asbestos Abatement
NCCI class code 5473 covers Asbestos Abatement in the construction industry. The median rate across 22 states is $4.49 per $100 payroll. Rates range from $1.09 in Utah to $22.25 in New Jersey.
Also known as: Asbestos removal · Hazardous material abatement
Most expensive 5 states
- New Jersey $22.25
- New York $17.65
- California $10.58
- Illinois $9.89
- Minnesota $5.88
What does NCCI class code 5473 cover?
Class code 5473 classifies employees performing Asbestos Abatement, also known as Asbestos removal, Hazardous material abatement. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 5473 falls within the construction industry group and is filed in 22 states.
NCCI's governing classification rules state that a single-classification employer with at least 51% of payroll in this occupation generally classifies all employees under code 5473, with two standard exceptions: clerical office work (segregated payroll records required, reported under code 8810) and outside sales / collectors (code 8742). If your operation has multiple distinct activities, ask your underwriter about a multi-class split before accepting a single-code rating.
Why rates for code 5473 vary so widely across states
The rate spread for code 5473 is 20.4× from cheapest to most expensive ($1.09 in Utah to $22.25 in New Jersey). This isn't randomness, it reflects each state's claim experience for the occupation over the most-recent 5-year window NCCI uses, medical inflation in that state's hospital/clinic market, indemnity (lost-wage) cost levels driven by state maximum weekly benefit caps, and rating-bureau methodology. Independent-bureau states (California's WCIRB, New York's NYCIRB, Pennsylvania's PCRB, New Jersey's NJCRIB, Massachusetts's WCRIBMA, Delaware's DCRB, Wisconsin's WCRB, North Carolina's NCRB, Texas's TDI) often diverge significantly from NCCI's national pure premium, sometimes by 30% or more on the same occupation. Monopolistic-fund states (Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, Wyoming) don't allow private carrier competition, so the state fund's pricing is the only available option.
How to use this code 5473 rate data
- Benchmark your carrier quote. A carrier quoting code 5473 above the $5.18 75th-percentile rate is asking for a premium-rated quote, push back or get a second quote.
- Identify the right state filing. Use the table below to find your state's filed rate. If your carrier is quoting at a higher rate, the difference is either schedule debit, EMR, deductible loading, or a state-fund surcharge, ask which.
- Calculate your effective rate. Effective rate = base rate × EMR ± schedule credit/debit ± deductible loading. Two carriers quoting code 5473 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
- Consider lower-rate states if locationally flexible. For code 5473, Utah ($1.09) is 95% cheaper than New Jersey ($22.25). Multi-state employers split payroll by state-of-work, not state-of-headquarters, so locating the high-payroll site in a cheaper state directly lowers premium.
- Build a 3-year EMR strategy. A 0.85 EMR cuts base rate by 15%; the difference between 0.85 and 1.25 EMR on the same code is a 47% premium difference. Frequency control (preventing every claim, even small ones) drives EMR more than severity control.
Code 5473 rates in all 22 states
| State | Code | Rate per $100 | vs peers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 5473 | $1.09 | 5% | view |
| Oregon | 5473 | $1.97 | 10% | view |
| Kansas | 5473 | $2.13 | 14% | view |
| Tennessee | 5473 | $2.36 | 19% | view |
| Virginia | 5473 | $2.90 | 24% | view |
| Hawaii | 5473 | $3.03 | 29% | view |
| Kentucky | 5473 | $3.12 | 33% | view |
| Oregon | 5473 D | $3.25 | - | view |
| Maryland | 5473 | $4.03 | 38% | view |
| Alabama | 5473 | $4.08 | 43% | view |
| Oklahoma | 5473 | $4.47 | 48% | view |
| Rhode Island | 5473 | $4.49 | 52% | view |
| Alaska | 5473 | $4.72 | 57% | view |
| Louisiana | 5473 | $4.93 | 62% | view |
| Indiana | 5473 | $4.96 | 67% | view |
| Arkansas | 5473 | $5.11 | 71% | view |
| Nevada | 5473 | $5.18 | 76% | view |
| Minnesota | 5473 | $5.88 | 81% | view |
| Illinois | 5473 | $9.89 | 86% | view |
| California | 5473 | $10.58 | 90% | view |
| New York | 5473 | $17.65 | 95% | view |
| New Jersey | 5473 | $22.25 | 100% | view |
Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)
What types of claims drive code 5473 rates?
Workers comp rate filings for code 5473 reflect what's actually happening on the job, not just generic occupation hazard. NCCI publishes loss-cost analyses showing which injury categories account for the bulk of indemnity (lost-wage) and medical claim cost. For Asbestos Abatement, the top drivers are typically:
- Falls from elevation, OSHA's #1 cited construction hazard, drives 25-35% of indemnity claim cost in construction-class codes.
- Struck-by and caught-between, including vehicle, equipment, and falling-object incidents, account for 15-20% of severity.
- Cumulative trauma from repetitive lifting, overhead work, and awkward postures drives long-tail medical cost.
- Electrical injuries, when present, are low-frequency but extreme-severity claims that disproportionately affect rate filings.
Targeting these drivers in your safety program produces the largest EMR improvement. Frequency control (preventing every claim, including small medical-only incidents) drives the modifier more than severity control. A documented written safety program addressing the top two drivers above is typically the highest-ROI intervention for employers paying for code 5473.
FAQs about NCCI 5473
What occupation is NCCI class code 5473?
Class code 5473 is "Asbestos Abatement" (also known as Asbestos removal, Hazardous material abatement), in the construction industry. The code is filed in 22 states.
What is the average workers comp rate for code 5473?
The median rate across 22 states is $4.49 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $1.09 (Utah) to $22.25 (New Jersey).
Why does code 5473 cost more in some states than others?
Workers comp rates reflect each state's loss experience for that occupation, the rating bureau's methodology (NCCI vs. independent), schedule rating credits, and the state's medical-cost inflation. Some states are monopolistic (only the state fund writes coverage) while others are open competitive markets.