What Is SB 553?
Senate Bill 553, signed into law in September 2023, is California's Workplace Violence Prevention Act. It requires nearly every employer in the state to establish, implement, and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) by July 1, 2024. This is separate from your Injury and Illness Prevention Program and specifically addresses the growing concern of violence in California workplaces.
Who Must Comply?
SB 553 applies to virtually all California employers and their employees, with limited exceptions for remote workers who do not interact with the public, healthcare facilities already covered under Cal/OSHA's existing violence prevention standard (8 CCR 3342), law enforcement agencies, and certain facilities operated by the Department of Corrections. If you have even one employee who works on-site or interacts with the public, you likely need a WVPP.
Key Requirements
Written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
Your WVPP must be a standalone written document that includes the names or job titles of persons responsible for implementing the plan, procedures to involve employees in development and implementation, methods for coordinating implementation with other employers at shared worksites, procedures to accept and respond to reports of workplace violence, procedures to ensure compliance with the plan, and procedures for post-incident response and investigation.
Violent Incident Log
Every incident, post-incident response, and workplace violence injury investigation must be recorded in a violent incident log. The log must include the date, time, and location of the incident, a detailed description of the incident, a classification of who committed the violence (Type 1 through 4), the type of violence (physical attack, threat, sexual assault, animal attack), consequences of the incident including injuries, and the names of the people involved. This log must be maintained for a minimum of five years.
Training Requirements
Employers must provide initial training when the plan is first established, then annual training thereafter, plus additional training when a new hazard is identified or when the plan is updated. Training must cover the employer's WVPP, how to report incidents, workplace violence hazards specific to the operation, and how to avoid physical harm through de-escalation and emergency procedures.
How to Create Your WVPP
Step 1: Assign a responsible person or team to own the plan. Step 2: Conduct a workplace violence hazard assessment of your physical environment, work practices, and history. Step 3: Draft the written plan addressing all required elements. Step 4: Develop reporting procedures that employees can access without fear of retaliation. Step 5: Create your violent incident log template. Step 6: Train all employees on the plan. Step 7: Establish a review schedule to update the plan at least annually.
Enforcement and Penalties
Cal/OSHA began enforcing SB 553 after July 1, 2024. Violations can result in citations ranging from general violations at $18,000 per instance to willful or repeat violations at up to $180,000 per instance. Beyond fines, employers face increased scrutiny during routine inspections and potential abatement orders requiring immediate corrective action.
Implementation Checklist
- Designate a WVPP administrator
- Complete a workplace violence hazard assessment
- Draft and finalize the written WVPP
- Create a violent incident log template
- Establish anonymous reporting procedures
- Train all current employees
- Document training completion
- Schedule annual plan review
- Schedule annual refresher training
- Post the plan where employees can access it