According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workplace violence is the second leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States, affecting nearly 2 million American workers annually. SB 553 addresses workplace violence by requiring employers to implement basic protections to protect employees while at work.
On September 20, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill No. 553 (“SB 553”) into law, which requires California employers to take steps to prevent and respond to workplace violence. Notably, effective July 1, 2024, SB 553 requires covered employers to create a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan. Employers must also review and update their workplace violence prevention plans on an annual basis and provide an evaluation of the incidents that occurred and maintain records of workplace violence hazards previously identified.
In addition, employers must maintain a log of all incidents of workplace violence even if the incident did not result in injury. This log must include information on every workplace violence incident, based on employee statements, witness statements, and investigation findings.
Employers must provide also effective training and ensure that training materials are easy to understand and match the workers’ education, reading skills, and language. • Employers must provide employees with an initial training and annually thereafter.
Violence Prevention Plan Resources
Register for the Active Violence Emergency Response Training at North Coast Builders Exchange. Classes offered in April, May, and June. Register here!
Model Written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan: http://dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/Model-WPV-Plan-General-Industry.docx
Workplace Violence Prevention in General Industry – Information for Employers: http://dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/WPV-General-Industry-for-employers-fs.pdf
Workplace Violence Prevention in General Industry – Information for Employees: http://dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh_publications/WPV-General-Industry-for-workers-fs.pdf