Workers' comp class code · Construction & Trades
Class code 5190 — Electrical Wiring
Installation and repair of wiring, panels, and fixtures inside buildings.
This classification applies to electricians who install and repair the wiring, panels, breakers, and fixtures that deliver power inside buildings. Typical jobs include running new circuits during construction, upgrading electrical panels, wiring lighting and outlets, and troubleshooting outages or code violations found during inspections. Work spans new builds, tenant buildouts, and service calls to existing structures.
Payroll usually includes journeyman and apprentice electricians, foremen who still perform hands-on wiring, and low-voltage or lighting techs who work from the same trucks. Office and estimating staff are generally split out separately as long as they don't visit job sites to perform electrical work.
The main hazards are electrical shock and arc flash from live circuits, falls from ladders while running wire near ceilings, and cuts from cable and conduit work. Because electricians often work inside walls, attics, and crawlspaces before other trades finish, they also face the same access hazards as other rough-in trades, and mistakes here can lead to fires long after the job is done.
What code 5190 typically includes
- Panel upgrades and breaker installation
- New circuit wiring for construction and remodels
- Lighting, outlet, and switch installation
- Troubleshooting outages and code corrections
- Low-voltage wiring performed by the same crew
Codes this one gets confused with
5606 — Contractor — Executive Supervisor
A supervisor who only walks the job and manages subs, without pulling wire, is rated separately from field electricians.
See code 56065479 — Sheet Metal Work
Sheet metal workers fabricate ductwork and trim, a physically different trade from wiring even on the same job site.
See code 54795537 — HVAC Installation
HVAC installers wire and connect equipment they install, but general building wiring for lighting and power belongs to the electrical code.
See code 5537What this code means for your premium
Electrical work carries a moderate rate — the exposure to shock and falls puts it above general office trades, though it's typically priced below high-fall or heavy-equipment trades like roofing or excavation.
Estimate your premiumClassification is not final until a carrier assigns it. Code numbers, wording and exceptions vary by state and rating bureau — several states run their own bureaus. This page is general reference written in our own words; your carrier's underwriter assigns the code based on your actual operations and payroll records.
Questions about code 5190
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