Learn about California's new workplace violence regulations and how to comply with them. Understand the requirements, training, and recordkeeping needed to ensure workplace safety.
Starting July 1, 2024, nearly every workplace in California must comply with new laws aimed at preventing workplace violence.
If you need a quick summary of what’s required and how to get started, this guide is for you. We’ll outline the new rules, what compliance looks like, and how EHS Insight can help.
Yes, but they’ve been limited. Under Title 8, Section 3342, most requirements only applied to healthcare employers.
In 2023, Senate Bill 553 expanded those protections. It amended Labor Code Section 6401.7 and created Section 6401.9, requiring nearly all employers to have a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP).
Employers must have a written WVPP and complete the required training by July 1, 2024.
The state may issue new regulations by the end of 2026, so requirements could change later.
The new rules involve three main activities:
Creating and implementing a WVPP
Providing employee training
Keeping detailed records
California’s new law doesn’t leave much room for interpretation. Employers must build a written plan with specific procedures for preventing and responding to workplace violence.
While we’re not going to cover every procedure that must be included and instead will refer readers back to the state’s FACT Sheet and their suggested template to build a compliant plan, we did want to mention a few of the more detailed procedures and how they can be managed using a solution from EHS Insight.
Inspections and hazard reviews are crucial. Employers must identify potential risks, assess them, and document control measures—then keep those records for five years.
EHS Insight’s Audit & Inspection and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment modules make this easy.
You can build custom inspections, attach photos, assign tasks, and automate alerts. Our tools also offer reporting features to help you track risk controls and compliance.
Each WVPP procedure has its own deadlines and tasks. Managing them manually can get overwhelming.
Our Compliance Management module helps you schedule, track, and monitor every compliance activity—across both internal and external regulations.
Paper systems make it hard to keep procedures up to date and accessible.
With EHS Insight’s Document Library, you can store and share all policies electronically. It tracks versions, protects documents from unauthorized edits, and gives workers quick access to what they need.
Employers must document, investigate, and log all workplace violence incidents. Paper-based systems make this difficult.
EHS Insight’s Incident Management module helps you record incidents, track investigations, and maintain a Workplace Violence Log digitally—all in one place.
Training must be specific, understandable, and interactive.
Employers can’t rely on generic videos alone. Training should match workers’ language and education levels, address site-specific risks, and include a live Q&A session.
Training is required:
When the plan is first implemented
Annually
After new hazards are identified
When the plan changes
Employers must keep the following records:
5 years of hazard assessments and corrective actions
1 year of training records (dates, content, trainer details, participants)
5 years of Workplace Violence Logs and investigations
Each log must include:
Date, time, and location
Type of violence and description
Who was involved
Actions taken
Name and title of the person completing the log
If you already track incidents in detail, most of this data will overlap with your existing process.
Complying with California’s new workplace violence rules will take time—but the right tools can make it easier.
EHS Insight can help you manage inspections, procedures, incidents, and records in one system.
Contact us today to learn how we can simplify your compliance process.
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