Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

NEW CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW EFFECTIVE JULY, 2024

It’s critical for business owners to stay updated on new employment laws, especially when the laws exist to keep people safe from potential workplace violence. A new California Labor Law takes effect on July 1st, 2024, and is an enhanced version of the current law with added protections for all people in the workplace. This law lays down ground rules that will help you communicate with your employees, respond to potential issues, develop training, and learn how to identify, evaluate, correct, and report workplace violence hazards and incidents.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

This blog is your guide to understanding the new law that takes effect on July 1st, 2024. Read on to learn more about:

What’s new?
Which employers must participate?
Overview of Workplace Violence in California
The Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

Is Your Business Currently Compliant With California Law?

What's New?

Although the law passed in September, 2023, the new California Labor Code Section 6401.9 becomes enforceable on July 1, 2024. Employers with employees in California should review this law to understand how it will affect their business and employees.

Employers have been required to have an IIPP – Illness and Injury Prevention Program and a CPP – Covid Prevention Program. The IIPP requirement began in 1991 and the CPP is required through February, 2025.
Your safety program and IIPP must include:

HAZCOM Plan
Safety Program
Safety Director
Regular Safety Meetings
Postings and Pamphlets
Document meetings with sign-in sheet and notes
Regular Trainings plus hold a “training-type” meeting after an accident or claim

In addition to the IIPP and CPP, you are required to write and implement a customized Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, which outlines how you should handle any incidents of violence in the workplace. For the well-being of your employees and business, keep reading for guidelines on how to implement this new California Labor Law and keep your company’s procedures up-to-date and compliant.

Which Employers Must Participate?

All employers, employees, places of employment, and employer-provided housing must comply except:

Health care facilities are already covered by Cal/OSHA’s existing Workplace Violence in Healthcare Standard.
Places of employment where there are fewer than 10 employees working at any given time AND that are not “accessible to the public.”
- The place must otherwise be “in compliance” with Cal/OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program Standard.

Employees teleworking 100% from a location of the employee’s choice, which is not under the employer’s control.

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An Overview of Workplace Violence in California

According to California law, violence in the workplace in California includes, but is not limited to:

The threat or use of physical force against an employee that results in, or has a high likelihood of resulting in, injury, psychological trauma, or stress, regardless of whether the employee sustains an injury.

An incident involving a threat or use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, including the use of common objects as weapons, regardless of whether the employee sustains an injury.

The four types of workplace violence as defined in Labor Code section 6401.9.

The Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP)

CalOSHA has put together a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP), which provides details on the range of policies and procedures designed to encompass end-to-end solutions to protect both employees and the employer. The WVPP includes information about reporting and investigating workplace violence incidents, how to identify and evaluate potential hazards, training for employees, emergency response protocols, tools, and more.

Companies should provide a clear and detailed WVPP to help create a safe environment for all employees. Here are some of the components that should be included in your plan.

Name and job title of the person creating or implementing the WVPP.
The system used for identifying and evaluating workplace hazards.
Outline of the procedures for employee participation in identifying these workplace violence hazards.
Procedures for communication of workplace violence with employees, which includes how to create a report without the fear of retaliation.
Fair and clear process for investigating employees concerns.
How to respond during a workplace violence emergency.
Procedures for post-incident response and investigation.
Training to all employees
Reviews of the plan when a deficiency is observed, after incidents, and annually.

Partner with NLS to Ensure Your Company’s Safety

At Next Level Strategies, our mission is to ensure that your company feels supported and secure during every step you take, especially when navigating the intricacies of this new California Law. We’re dedicated to personally guiding you through the process and ensuring your business is not just compliant but confidently covered from every angle.

If you need help understanding this new law or are looking for guidance with anything else HR-related, we’d love to start with an initial consultation! Our HR experts will assess, at a very high level, what your needs are and provide recommendations for what services we offer that will best suit your organization. Reach out to us today to keep your company safe and prepared for anything.