As many California ASA members are likely aware, a law passed last year requires employers to develop a written plan and implement interactive training to respond to cases of workplace violence. ASA’s Sacramento representation, California Strategies, provided an excellent summary by Akerman LLP:
A new California law taking place on workplace violence requires employers to develop and implement written plans and interactive training to prevent and respond to on-the-job threats of violence by July 1, 2024. Among other things, Senate Bill 553 requires adopting an “effective” written workplace violence prevention plan, either as a stand-alone document or as part of a general injury and illness prevention program.
In many respects, SB 553 is a broader enactment of a regulatory standard that has applied to healthcare employers in California since 2017. SB 553 also directs the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) — the author of the healthcare regulations — to adopt and enforce new workplace violence prevention standards no later than December 31, 2025. But even if Cal/OSHA does not meet that deadline, it is empowered to begin enforcing the new law when its requirements become effective in July. The legislation imposes extensive new requirements on employers; thus, it is time now for employers to work toward compliance.
