California employers closer to having Workplace Violence Prevention Plan regulations
The country’s first workplace violence prevention law for general industry took effect July 1, 2024. Most California employers had a steep learning curve the past few months as they geared up to comply with this new Cal/OSHA law. And the learning isn’t over yet.
The agency has been working on writing the standard (i.e., regulations) for the law— California Senate Bill 553 (SB 553)—and received public comments through September 3.
Once the agency reviews the comments and makes changes, they’ll likely release the standard sometime in 2025. The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) is required to adopt the standard no later than December 31, 2026.
Complying with the law without having specifics in place has been a challenge for some employers. The draft regulations, however, give California employers a sneak peek on what’s coming.
Engineering controls
Cal/OSHA included the types of engineering controls organizations can put in place.
“Engineering controls” means an aspect of the built space or a device that removes a hazard from the workplace or creates a barrier between the worker and the hazard. For purposes of reducing workplace violence hazards, engineering controls include, but are not limited to:
- Electronic or mechanical access controls to employee occupied areas;
- Weapon detectors (installed or handheld);
- Enclosed workstations with shatter-resistant glass;
- Deep service counters;
- Spaces configured to optimize employee access to exits, escape routes, and alarms;
- Separate rooms or areas for high risk persons;
- Locks on doors;
- Furniture affixed to the floor;
- Opaque glass (protects privacy, but allows employees to see where potential risks are);
- Improving lighting in dark areas, sight-aids, improving visibility, and removing sight barriers;
- Video monitoring and recording; and
- Personal and workplace alarms.
Work practices controls
“Work practice controls” means procedures, rules, and staffing which are used to effectively reduce workplace violence hazards. Work practice controls include, but are not limited to:
- Appropriate staffing levels;
- Provision of dedicated security personnel;
- An effective means to alert employees of the presence, location, and nature of a security threat;
- Control of visitor entry;
- Methods and procedures to prevent unauthorized firearms and weapons in the workplace;
- Employee training on workplace violence prevention methods; and
- Employee training on procedures to follow in the event of a workplace violence incident or emergency.
Employers elsewhere can use this as a guide
While California employers and companies with satellite offices located in the west-coast state meeting certain criteria need to comply, employers across the country can look to these draft regulations and use them as a starting point to improve safety measures at their organizations.
News reports following this week’s school shooting in Georgia indicate that recently implemented safety measures, like automatically locking doors and staff panic buttons, may have helped save countless lives.
As organizations nationwide continue to grapple with how to prevent violent incidents from occurring at their worksites, following California’s lead on implementing some control measures is a great place to start.
Key to remember: Cal/OSHA is closer to finalizing a new standard for the Workplace Violence Prevention Plan law that took effect this summer.
