Workplace Violence Prevention Plan: SB 553 Requirements Explained
A workplace violence prevention plan (WVPP) is a written program that explains how an employer will identify, prevent, report, respond to and learn from violence and threats at work. In California, SB 553 made a WVPP mandatory for most employers starting July 1, 2024, under Labor Code section 6401.9, together with annual employee training and a violent incident log. Outside California a workplace violence prevention plan is usually not required by a specific statute, but it is still the clearest way to show you took reasonable steps to protect your people.
Workplace violence prevention plan key takeaways
- California Labor Code 6401.9 (from SB 553) has required most employers to have a written, site specific WVPP since July 1, 2024.
- The law also requires interactive training, a violent incident log, hazard correction and recordkeeping.
- A few workplaces are exempt, such as health care facilities already covered by Cal/OSHA’s health care violence standard and small sites closed to the public.
- A downloaded template is a starting point, not a workplace violence prevention plan. It has to reflect your actual sites, hazards and people.
- Employers in other states can use the same structure as good practice and a defensible standard of care.
What does SB 553 require?
SB 553 added section 6401.9 to the California Labor Code. For covered employers it requires four core things:
- A written workplace violence prevention plan that is in effect at all times, specific to your workplace, and easily accessible to employees, their representatives and Cal/OSHA.
- Training for employees when the plan is first established and at least once a year after that, delivered in a way that lets employees ask questions of someone knowledgeable about the plan.
- A violent incident log recording every workplace violence incident, with personal identifying information left out.
- Records of hazard identification and correction, training, incident logs and investigations, kept for the required retention periods (several years for most records).
Your workplace violence prevention plan can be a standalone document or a separate section of your existing Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). Cal/OSHA has published a model plan for general industry, which is a helpful reference for structure. The official guidance lives on the Cal/OSHA website.
Who is covered, and who is exempt?
The law applies to most California employers, employees and places of employment. The main exemptions are:
- Health care facilities and operations already covered by Cal/OSHA’s Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care standard
- Employees teleworking from a location of their choosing that is not under the employer’s control
- Places of employment not accessible to the public where fewer than 10 employees work at any given time, as long as the employer complies with its IIPP
- Certain law enforcement agencies and corrections facilities
Exemptions are narrow. A small office that is closed to the public may qualify, but a small retail store open to customers likely does not. If you are unsure, assume you are covered and confirm with counsel.
What must a written workplace violence prevention plan include?
A compliant workplace violence prevention plan is more than a policy statement. Use this table as a working checklist.
| Plan element | What it should cover |
|---|---|
| Responsible persons | Names or job titles of the people who run the plan |
| Employee involvement | How employees and their representatives help develop and carry out the plan, including identifying hazards |
| Coordination | How you work with staffing agencies and other employers on shared sites |
| Reporting | How employees report incidents and concerns, how you respond, and a clear ban on retaliation |
| Compliance | How supervisors and employees are held to the plan |
| Communication | How you tell employees about hazards, incidents and investigation results |
| Emergency response | Alerts, evacuation or sheltering plans, and how to get help |
| Training | Content, timing and documentation of employee training |
| Hazard identification and correction | Periodic inspections, how hazards are evaluated and how quickly they get fixed |
| Post incident response | Investigation, support for affected employees and corrective action |
| Review | Regular review of the plan’s effectiveness, and after any incident or identified deficiency |
What are the four types of workplace violence?
SB 553 uses the four widely recognized types, and your hazard assessment should consider each:
- Type 1: violence by someone with no legitimate business at the workplace, often with criminal intent such as robbery.
- Type 2: violence by customers, clients, patients, students or visitors.
- Type 3: violence by a current or former employee, supervisor or manager.
- Type 4: violence by someone who has a personal relationship with an employee but no business at the workplace, such as domestic violence that follows a worker to the job.
Type 3 and Type 4 cases often show warning signs well in advance. Pairing your workplace violence prevention plan with a behavioral threat assessment team gives you a way to act on concerns before they escalate.
Why does a template workplace violence prevention plan fall short?
Downloading a template and filling in the company name is the most common mistake. Cal/OSHA expects a workplace violence prevention plan specific to the hazards at each workplace. If your plan describes a front desk you do not have, or a panic button nobody has tested, it will not help in a real incident or an inspection.
A workplace violence prevention plan that works usually reflects:
- A walkthrough of each site to identify real hazards: isolated workers, cash handling, late hours, poor lighting, unrestricted entry
- Input from employees who know where problems happen
- A review of past incidents, complaints and near misses
- Realistic emergency procedures, practiced at least once, including how to get help quickly. See our guide to active shooter preparedness training for the response side.
How should you handle training and the incident log?
Training must cover the workplace violence prevention plan itself, how to report incidents without fear of retaliation, the hazards specific to the job, strategies to avoid harm, and the violent incident log. Generic online videos can cover the basics, but your people still need to know your reporting channels and emergency procedures.
Published course prices range from under $10 per person for general online courses to roughly $20 to $40 for California specific courses, while in person classes are often priced per session. Our workplace violence prevention cost guide compares the options and what a consultant written plan involves.
The incident log should capture each incident’s date, time, location, type of violence, a description, and its consequences, without names or other personal identifiers. Treat it as a management tool: patterns in the log tell you where to focus next.
What if you are outside California?
Federal OSHA has no specific workplace violence standard for general industry, but it treats violence as a recognized hazard and publishes guidance on its workplace violence page. Some states and industries, especially health care and retail, have their own requirements. A written workplace violence prevention plan built on the SB 553 structure is a practical, defensible standard wherever you operate.
You can find consultants who build site specific plans on our workplace violence prevention page, or browse security training specialists for staff sessions.
Need a plan that fits your workplace?
Tell us about your locations, workforce and concerns. We will match you with independent workplace violence prevention consultants who can write or review your plan, train your staff and set up your incident log, with proposals sent at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
When did the SB 553 workplace violence prevention plan requirement take effect?
California employers covered by Labor Code section 6401.9 have had to comply since July 1, 2024. That includes having a written workplace violence prevention plan in effect, training employees, keeping a violent incident log and maintaining the related records. Employers that missed the date should put a site specific workplace violence prevention plan in place and train staff as soon as possible.
Does SB 553 apply to small businesses?
Generally yes. The law covers most California employers regardless of size. One exemption applies to places not accessible to the public where fewer than 10 employees work at any given time, if the employer complies with its Injury and Illness Prevention Program. A small business open to customers will usually be covered, so confirm your status with counsel.
Can I use the Cal/OSHA model plan?
Yes, as a starting point. Cal/OSHA published a model workplace violence prevention plan for general industry to help employers with structure. You still need to tailor it to each workplace, including your actual hazards, people responsible, reporting channels and emergency procedures. A plan that reads like an unedited template will not hold up well in an incident or inspection.
How often must employees be trained under SB 553?
Employees must be trained when the workplace violence prevention plan is first established and at least annually after that. The training must be interactive, giving employees a chance to ask questions of someone knowledgeable about the employer’s plan. Additional training is expected when new or previously unrecognized hazards are identified or the plan changes. Keep training records.
What goes in a violent incident log?
Each workplace violence incident should be recorded with details such as the date, time and location, the type of violence, a description of what happened, and its consequences, such as whether security or law enforcement was contacted. Personal identifying information about the people involved must be left out. Review the log regularly to spot patterns and fix hazards.
Keep reading
Behavioral Threat Assessment Team: How to Build One That Works
Active Shooter Preparedness Training: What Good Programs Include
