On September 30, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB-553 into law, marking a significant milestone in workplace safety regulations in California. This new legislation introduces a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) requirement, applicable to nearly all employers across industries. Effective from July 1, 2024, this requirement sets a precedent nationwide.
Who is Covered and Exemptions
This law casts a wide net, encompassing all California employers. However, there are exemptions for specific entities, including healthcare facilities, teleworking employees not under employer control, certain government-operated facilities, and small workplaces inaccessible to the public.
Enforcement Authority
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is responsible for enforcing California SB-553.
At WILL Interactive, we are dedicated to facilitating your compliance journey with California’s new Workplace Violence Prevention law. Our comprehensive package includes a customized Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, a Violent Incident Log page template, and an online Training Course. While our solution equips you for compliance, ongoing adherence to SB 553 mandates continuous effort. To ensure sustained compliance, refer to the following checklist.
Compliance Checklist
Requirement 1: Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
- Establish and adopt a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan.
- Assign responsibility to designated individuals for plan implementation.
- Solicit active employee participation in plan development and review.
- Outline protocols for responding to reports of workplace violence.
- Implement corrective measures upon identifying hazards.
- Define post-incident response and investigation procedures.
- Devise strategies for compliance assurance and effective communication.
- Conduct regular workplace violence prevention assessments and hazard inspections.
- Formulate protocols for seeking assistance from law enforcement and emergency response.
- Ensure ongoing employee communication channels for reporting concerns without fear of retaliation.
- Implement procedures for plan compliance monitoring, including recognition for safe practices and disciplinary actions if necessary.
- Conduct an annual evaluation of the plan’s effectiveness.
Requirement 2: Violent Incident Log
- Create and maintain a Violent Incident Log.
- Record details of each violent incident, including date, time, location, perpetrator information, circumstances, incident type, consequences, and contact information.
- Utilize the provided Violent Incident Log template.
- Maintain log records for a minimum of five years.
Requirement 3: Employee Training
- Educate employees on the Workplace Violence Prevention Plan specifics.
- Integrate the Plan document into WILL’s training program.
- Discuss unique workplace threats and mitigation measures with employees.
- Provide guidance on seeking assistance and responding to violence effectively.
- Utilize WILL’s Active Threat Response online training course, covering pre, during, and post-threat incident strategies.
- Conduct annual employee training sessions, ensuring access to the most recent Plan updates.
Compliance with California’s Workplace Violence Prevention law demands proactive measures and ongoing commitment. By adhering to this checklist and utilizing WILL Interactive’s resources, you can effectively navigate the regulatory landscape while prioritizing workplace safety and employee well-being.
