On September 30, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) No. 553, which requires virtually every California employer to implement annual violence prevention training and a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan (WVPP) with very specific requirements.

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Who needs to comply?

SB 553 applies to all employers operating in California with a workforce of 10 or more individuals present on-site. 

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Who is exempt?

Healthcare facilities and other service categories and operations outlined in Section 3342 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations are exempt from SB 553 requirements.

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What are the requirements for the written workplace violence prevention plan?

The WVPP must be in writing, easily accessible to all employees, specific to the worksite, and in effect at all times. The WVPP must be customized for different locations if the worksite locations pose different hazards.  Employers must maintain workplace violent incident logs and records and conduct periodic reviews of the WVPP.

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What are the training requirements of SB 553? 

Employee workplace violence training must be conducted when the plan is first established, annually thereafter, and when changes are made to the plan. 

 

SB 553 training must be interactive, allowing employees the opportunity to ask questions with an individual knowledgeable about the employer’s plan. Training must outline how employees can be involved in and participate in the development of the workplace violence prevention plan.

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SB 533 imposes penalties for non-compliance, including fines and potential legal action. Employers are responsible for ensuring that their work place violence prevention plan is effectively implemented and maintained.

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Deadline to Comply: July 1, 2024