As previously reported (HERE), California Senate Bill 553 (codified at California Labor Code § 6401.9) requires all employers with limited exceptions – such as those with private places of employment with less than 10 employees present at a time, and remote employees who work from a location of their choice over which the employer has no control – to, among other things, establish and implement a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (“WVPP”) by July 1, 2024. On March 1, 2024, the California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal/OSHA”) published its Model WVPP for General Industry (non-health care settings), downloadable HERE and available on the Cal/OSHA Publications website HERE.
The Model WVPP is an editable form with instructions to employers on incorporating their workplace-specific information. Use of the Model WVPP is not mandatory – employers may create a free-standing plan or add a standalone workplace violence prevention section to their existing Injury and Illness Prevention Program – and Cal/OSHA makes clear that using the Model WVPP does not automatically ensure that the company is in compliance with Section 6401.9, which also includes requirements related to maintaining a violent incident log and other records and providing employee training. Employers are required to engage with their workforce in developing and implementing their WVPP regardless of whether they use Cal/OSHA’s model (which includes a section addressing the active involvement of employees).
In addition to the Model WVPP, Cal/OSHA published workplace violence prevention fact sheets for general industry employers (available HERE) and employees (available HERE). Fact sheets specific to agricultural operations also are available (HERE and HERE).
If you have any questions relating to this e-alert or need assistance developing your WVPP or complying with the other provisions of SB553 including mandatory training requirements, please reach out to the NFC Attorney with whom you typically work or call us at 619-292