The Deadline Has Passed
July 1, 2024 was the compliance date for California's Workplace Violence Prevention Act, SB 553. By that date, employers were required to have a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, a violent incident log system in place, and initial employee training completed. If you missed the deadline, you are currently operating out of compliance.
What Cal/OSHA Is Doing Now
Cal/OSHA has incorporated SB 553 compliance into routine inspections. When a compliance officer visits your workplace for any reason, they are now checking for a current WVPP alongside your IIPP. Complaint-driven inspections specifically citing workplace violence concerns have increased significantly since the deadline.
What You Still Need to Do
If you have not yet complied, the steps remain the same. Develop your written WVPP covering all required elements. Establish your violent incident log. Train all employees on the plan and their rights under it. Document everything. The fact that the deadline has passed does not change the requirements — it only increases your exposure to citations.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
General violations carry penalties of up to $18,000 per instance. If Cal/OSHA determines that your failure to implement a WVPP is willful or that you were aware of the requirement and chose not to act, penalties can reach $180,000 per violation. Repeat violations within a five-year period carry enhanced penalties.
The Bottom Line
SB 553 is not going away. Cal/OSHA is actively enforcing it. The cost of compliance is a fraction of a single citation. If you have not yet implemented your Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, the time to act is now — not after you receive a citation.