Workers' comp class code · Construction & Trades
Class code 5474 — Painting
Interior and exterior painting, staining, and wallcovering of structures.
This classification covers painting contractors who apply interior and exterior paint, stain, and wallcovering to buildings of all types. Work includes surface prep such as scraping, sanding, and patching, masking and protecting adjacent surfaces, and applying finish coats by brush, roller, or sprayer. Exterior work often requires ladders or lifts to reach upper stories, while interior work involves more confined spaces and ventilation concerns from fumes.
Payroll includes painters, prep laborers who handle scraping and sanding, and crew leads who mix and match colors and coordinate the job. Wallcovering installers who work alongside painting crews are usually included under the same classification since the surface-prep and application skills overlap.
Falls from ladders and scaffolding during exterior work are the primary severity driver, particularly on multi-story buildings. Repetitive motion from rolling and brushing contributes to shoulder and wrist strain, and exposure to paint fumes and solvents in enclosed spaces is an ongoing health consideration, especially during interior spray work.
What code 5474 typically includes
- Interior and exterior surface preparation
- Brush, roller, and spray application of paint and stain
- Wallcovering and wallpaper installation
- Pressure washing as prep for exterior painting
- Ladder and lift-based work on multi-story exteriors
Codes this one gets confused with
5478 — Insulation Work
Insulation installers work inside walls and attics rather than applying finish coatings, making the exposures and tasks quite different despite both being finish-stage trades.
See code 54785445 — Wallboard/Drywall Installation
Drywall crews hang and finish the wall surface before it's painted; painting begins once that surface is ready.
See code 54455348 — Tile, Stone & Mosaic Installation
Both are finish trades, but tile setters work with rigid materials and mortar rather than liquid coatings and rollers.
See code 5348What this code means for your premium
Painting generally rates in the low-to-moderate range for construction trades, with exterior ladder and lift work pushing it above pure interior finish trades but still well below roofing or structural work.
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 5474
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