As discussed here, on September 30, 2023, California Governor Newsom signed SB 553 mandating all California employers comply with the statute’s workplace violence prevention safety requirements.
In addition, statutory mandates require the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to develop and submit a workplace violence prevention standard to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board no later than December 31, 2025. Thereafter the Standards Board is required to adopt the standard no later than December 31, 2026.
In compliance with this requirement, Cal/OSHA has released a revised discussion draft of a proposed workplace violence prevention standard for general industry. The proposal includes:
- Examples of “engineering controls” and “work practice controls” that employers can utilize to help prevent workplace violence.
- A requirement that employers communicate with “authorized employee representatives” and employees regarding workplace violence matters.
- Additional recordkeeping requirements mandating employers create and maintain records of workplace violence complaints and investigations.
- Post-incident response and investigation requirements including providing immediate medical care or first aid to those injured in an incident and in some cases making individual trauma counseling available to affected workers.
- Examples of workplace violence hazards.
Employers are encouraged to monitor Cal/OSHA workplace violence prevention updates concerning proposed regulations to ensure a smooth update process once the agency’s regulations are finalized.
It is anticipated that an advisory committee meeting will be scheduled for later in the year. Written comments on the revised discussion draft will be accepted through September 3, 2024.
