California SB 553 Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

California SB 553 is a new law that requires most employers to create and follow a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan by July 1, 2024. The law adds new safety rules to protect workers from violence or threats at work and applies to many types of businesses across the state.

Most businesses in California must follow SB 553. This includes companies with 10 or more employees and any business that is open to the public, no matter the size. Healthcare, law enforcement, and correctional facilities follow separate workplace violence rules already covered under other regulations.

Employers are exempt from SB 553 if they have fewer than 10 employees working at one time and are not open to the public. It also does not apply to employees working remotely from locations they choose that are not controlled by their employer, as well as to healthcare, law enforcement, and correctional facilities that already follow their own safety laws.

Employers must provide interactive, hands-on training when the plan is first introduced, once a year after that, and whenever new risks are found. Training must explain the company’s violence prevention plan, how to report incidents safely, workplace risks related to each job, and how to prevent or respond to violent situations.

Employers must keep records of hazard checks and fixes for at least five years, training records for one year, and a violent incident log for five years that lists incident details without naming individuals. They must also keep investigation records for five years to show how each violent incident was reviewed and handled.

Employees who work entirely from home or another location of their choice that the employer does not control are usually exempt. However, remote employees who are assigned to work from home by their employer must still be included in the plan and receive training. They should also know how to report threats or harassment safely and without fear of punishment.

A threat includes any spoken or written message, such as texts, emails, or social media posts, or behavior that suggests or could be seen as an intent to cause harm or make someone afraid. SB 553 recognizes four types of workplace violence: by strangers with criminal intent, by customers or clients, by coworkers or supervisors, and by people who have a personal relationship with an employee.

Employers who fail to follow SB 553 can face Cal/OSHA citations and fines. Starting January 1, 2025, penalties range from $16,285 for general violations to $162,851 for willful or repeat ones, depending on severity, business size, cooperation, and compliance history.