Washington Administrative Code
Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of
Chapter 296-17A - Classifications for Washington workers' compensation insurance
Section 296-17A-2104 - Classification 2104

2104-01 Vegetable packing - Fresh

Applies to establishments engaged in the packing of fresh vegetables. These operations are usually located in produce growing areas and are generally seasonal. The vegetables are generally brought to the packing plant by the farmer or co-op drivers, but some packing plants may employ their own drivers to pick up the product from the local farms or co-op. Typical activities of the packing operation include, but are not limited to, sorting, grading, cleaning, trimming, packing and shipping of the vegetables. Various packing containers such as plastic bags, boxes, barrels, crates, and baskets may be used. The packing may be done by hand for fragile vegetables or by machine for the more sturdy produce. This classification includes cold storage operations if it is used solely for the storage of their own produce. Drivers employed by these establishments who pick up the vegetables from the suppliers or deliver the packaged product to the market are included in this classification. A farm operation that grows and packs their own fresh vegetables or packs other farms' fresh vegetables in addition to their own is to be assigned this classification (2104) for the packing operation. However, if the farmer only sorts and stores the fresh vegetables, the appropriate agricultural classification is applicable to both the growing and sorting/storage operations. This classification also includes establishments engaged in processing potatoes into seed potatoes. Processing plants receive whole potatoes from their suppliers. At the plant the potatoes are moved along on a conveyor belt, cleaned as appropriate, cut into small pieces (usually quarters), and treated with a fumigant powder or other sterilizer. The smaller pieces, referred to as "seed potatoes," are delivered to farmers who plant them for future crops.

This classification excludes fresh fruit packing which is to be reported separately in classification 2104-02; cannery or freezing operations and/or any processing of the vegetables which are to be reported separately in classification 3902; and cold storage operations not exclusively part of a packing operation which are to be reported separately in either classification 4401 or 4404.

2104-02 Fruit packing - Fresh

Applies to establishments engaged in the packing of fresh fruit. These operations are usually located in produce growing areas and generally are seasonal. The fruit may be brought to the packing plant by the farmer or co-op drivers, but some packing plants may employ their own drivers to pick up the product from the local farms or co-op. Typical activities of the packing operation include, but are not limited to, sorting, grading, cleaning, trimming, packing and shipping the fruit. Various packing containers such as plastic bags, boxes, barrels, crates and baskets may be used. The packing may be done by hand for fragile fruit or by machine for the more sturdy produce. This classification includes any cold storage operations if it is used solely for the storage of their own produce. Drivers employed by these establishments who pick up the fruit from the farmer or deliver the packaged product to the market are included in this classification. A farm operation that grows and packs their own fresh fruit, or packs other farms' fresh fruit in addition to their own, is to be assigned this classification (2104) for the packing operation. However, if the farmer only sorts and stores the fresh fruit the appropriate agricultural classification is applicable to both the growing and sorting/storage operations.

This classification excludes fresh vegetable packing which is reported separately in classification 2104-01; cannery or freezing operations and/or any processing of the fruit which are to be reported separately in classification 3902; and cold storage operations not exclusively part of a packing operation which is reported separately in either classification 4401 or 4404.

07-01-014, recodified as § 296-17A-2104, filed 12/8/06, effective 12/8/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035. 99-18-068, § 296-17-564, filed 8/31/99, effective 10/1/99; 98-18-042, § 296-17-564, filed 8/28/98, effective 10/1/98; 96-12-039, § 296-17-564, filed 5/31/96, effective 7/1/96; 85-24-032 (Order 85-33), § 296-17-564, filed 11/27/85, effective 1/1/86; 85-06-026 (Order 85-7), § 296-17-564, filed 2/28/85, effective 4/1/85; 83-24-017 (Order 83-36), § 296-17-564, filed 11/30/83, effective 1/1/84; Order 73-22, § 296-17-564, filed 11/9/73, effective 1/1/74.