SB 553: California Workplace Violence Prevention Requirements
What Is SB 553
Senate Bill 553, signed into law in 2023 and effective July 1, 2024, requires every California employer to establish, implement, and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan. This is codified in Labor Code Section 6401.9. Unlike the IIPP (which has existed since 1991), the workplace violence requirement is new and many employers are not yet compliant.
Who It Applies To
Every California employer with at least one employee, regardless of industry or size. There are limited exemptions for: Healthcare facilities already covered by T8 CCR 3342. Certain law enforcement operations. Employees who telework from a location of their own choice not controlled by the employer. Department of Corrections facilities. All construction employers, retail businesses, restaurants, offices, and service companies are covered.
The Four Types of Workplace Violence
SB 553 requires the plan to address all four types: Type 1 — Criminal intent (robbery, trespass). Type 2 — Customer/client (patient, student, or customer directed violence). Type 3 — Worker-on-worker (co-worker conflict). Type 4 — Personal relationship (domestic violence spillover into the workplace). Your plan must identify which types are most likely in your operation and prescribe specific prevention measures for each.
Required Plan Elements
The written plan must include: Names of persons responsible for implementation. Procedures to obtain the active involvement of employees. Methods to coordinate implementation with other employers (multi-employer sites). Procedures to accept and respond to reports of workplace violence. Procedures to ensure no employee suffers retaliation for reporting. Procedures for emergency response. Training requirements. Violent incident log. Post-incident response and investigation procedures.
Training Requirements
Employers must provide training: When the plan is first established. Annually thereafter. When a new or previously unrecognized workplace violence hazard is identified. Training must cover the plan itself, how to report incidents, the types of workplace violence, and the employer's specific prevention measures.
The Violent Incident Log
A new recordkeeping requirement. Employers must maintain a log of every violent incident (or threat of violence). The log must include: Date, time, and location. A detailed description of the incident. Classification by type (1-4). The circumstances at the time. The consequences of the incident. This log must be maintained for a minimum of 5 years.
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