California State Senator Dave Cortese introduced Senate Bill 553 on February 15th, 2023, which discusses workplace violence. Workplace violence prevention regulations are only applicable to the health care industry. However, preventing workplace violence in every industry is also necessary. Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior at work. It can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. It’s reported that 743 million, or 23% of employees worldwide, have experienced violence or harassment in their workplace.
Understanding Senate Bill 553
Senate Bill 553 would require California’s occupational safety and health regulator to broaden the scope of workplace violence prevention regulations and would cover most employers in California. If it passes, it will require the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to adopt regulations requiring any employer not subject to the health care regulations to create a workplace violence prevention plan that’s part of the employer’s injury and illness prevention plan. Business owners would be required to do the following:
- Violent incident log
- Recordkeeping
- Reporting of violent incidents to Cal/OSHA
- A written violence prevention plan
- Training
GMS' Safety Manager Nick Clark stated, "One of the most important aspects of maintaining a safe workplace is preventing workplace violence. There are several steps employers can take to prevent violent incidents in the workplace. First, creating a workplace prevention program that includes guidelines for reporting and addressing threatening or violent behavior is crucial. Furthermore, training employees to recognize warning signs of violence, de-escalation techniques, and how to respond to violent incidents can help prevent such incidents from occurring. Employers may also consider implementing security measures such as surveillance cameras, access control systems, and security personnel to prevent violence. Ultimately, taking proactive measures to prevent workplace violence can ensure employees' safety and well-being and avoid legal issues."
Don’t Wait To Prevent Workplace Violence
While there is no set time frame for when this bill would go into effect, it’s essential that you’re always trying to keep your employees safe and prevent workplace violence from occurring. Partnering with a professional employer organization (PEO) such as GMS can help employers by providing various services and resources to identify and manage potential threats. GMS’ HR experts work with you to create clear policies and procedures around prevention, including training, reporting, and response protocols. In addition, you gain access to our learning management system (LMS), where employees can be trained to identify potential warning signs of violence, report concerns, and respond to an active threat. Ultimately, we provide ongoing support to help you stay updated with the latest best practices and strategies for preventing workplace violence. Contact us today to prevent workplace violence from happening in your business.