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SPECIAL ALERT: Finally, The WVPP Template is Here!

Posted by Eli Nunez, HR Director on March 5, 2024

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Ever since the Governor signed SB 553 in September 2023, employers have been eagerly awaiting guidance from Cal/OSHA, including a template Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP). Good news: Cal/OSHA published a model WVPP for general industry employers, and other resources, well before the July 1 deadline.

On March 1, Cal/OSHA and the DIR released the following resources:

And the long-awaited:

Who Does SB 553 Apply To?

The WVPP requirement applies to all California employers unless they are specifically exempted. The exemptions include:

  • Employers already covered by the WVPP in Healthcare standard (or employers that already comply with that standard);
  • Facilities operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and law enforcement agencies;
  • Employees teleworking from a location of their choice that is not under the control of the employer;
  • Places of employment that are not accessible to the public and have less than 10 employees working at any given time, so long as they have a compliant IIPP.

Important Deadlines

The law takes effect on July 1, 2024. At that point, employers must have taken all steps necessary to create, implement, and maintain a WVPP. Employers should not wait until the last minute because there are some potentially time-consuming requirements, including:

  • Getting input from employees (and union representatives) when creating the plan
  • Developing procedures to respond to and maintain records of workplace violence incidents
  • Training all employees and supervisors

Employers should also be aware that Cal/OSHA has until December 31, 2025 to propose a general industry workplace violence prevention standard, and until December 31, 2026 for their Standards Board to adopt said standard. This does not mean that employers should wait for more clarification—Cal/OSHA will begin enforcing the requirements as of July 1 of this year!

If you would like additional information, CEA has developed a WVPP Fact Sheet and a sample Violent Incident Log to help comply with SB 553’s record-keeping requirements.

More questions?

Members call us or email us at no charge: 800.399.5331 or CEAinfo@employers.org.

Or register for our Workplace Violence Prevention Program Do It Yourself Package webinar on Thursday, May 2 to gain practical guidance to create, implement, and maintain your WVPP.