Workplace Violence Prevention Plan — California

1. Purpose and scope

This plan describes how [Company name] prevents workplace violence. It covers all employees and every work area, and is available to employees, their representatives and Cal/OSHA at all times. It may be kept as a separate section of the company's Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

Workplace violence includes threats and acts of violence by strangers, customers or clients, co-workers, or someone who has a personal relationship with an employee.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9

2. Responsibility and employee involvement

[Person responsible for the plan (name and title)] is responsible for this plan, phone [Phone of the person responsible].

Employees take part in developing and carrying out the plan: identifying and evaluating hazards, designing training, and reviewing incidents. Their input is gathered at toolbox meetings and during the annual review.

On multi-employer job sites, the company coordinates with the general contractor and other employers so every worker is covered by a plan, and gives a copy of any incident log entry to the controlling employer.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9

3. Reporting and communication

Employees can report violence, threats or concerns without fear of retaliation. How to report: [How employees report violence or threats]

Every report is taken seriously and answered. Employees are told how the company is investigating and what corrective actions are taken. Employees may also contact law enforcement directly.

All employees, including supervisors, must follow this plan. Compliance is handled through training, recognition and discipline, the same way as the rest of the company's safety program.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9

4. Emergency response

[How employees are alerted and what they do in an emergency]

Anyone facing an immediate threat calls 911 first.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9

5. Identifying and correcting hazards

Workplace violence hazards are identified and evaluated when this plan is first set up, periodically, after each incident, and whenever a new or previously unrecognized hazard comes to light. Risks specific to this company's work: [Workplace violence risks specific to your work]

Hazards are corrected in a timely manner — for example by not working alone at high-risk locations, improving lighting and access control, limiting cash on site, and removing workers from a site when a threat cannot be controlled.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9

6. After an incident

After any incident, the company makes sure injured employees get care, investigates what happened, records it in the violent incident log, and decides on corrective actions. Investigation records contain no medical information.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9

7. Violent incident log

Every incident, post-incident response and investigation is recorded in the log, with no information that identifies the people involved. Each entry includes:

• Date, time and location of the incident.
• Type of workplace violence (1 to 4) and a detailed description.
• Who committed the violence (stranger, client, co-worker, personal relation) and the circumstances.
• Type of location and type of incident (for example, physical attack, threat, weapon involved).
• Consequences, including whether law enforcement was contacted, and actions taken to protect employees.
• Name, job title and date of the person completing the entry.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9

8. Training

Employees are trained when the plan is first set up, every year after that, and whenever a new hazard is identified or the plan changes. Training is in a language employees understand and covers:

• This plan, how to get a copy, and how to take part in it.
• What workplace violence is, and how to report incidents or concerns without retaliation.
• The hazards of each job and how to avoid or respond to them, including how to get help.
• The violent incident log and how to see the company's records.
• A chance to ask questions of someone who knows the plan.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9

9. Records and review

Records of hazard identification, evaluation and correction, the violent incident log, and incident investigations are kept for 5 years. Training records — dates, content, trainer and attendees — are kept for 1 year. Employees can get copies of these records free within 15 calendar days of asking.

[Person responsible for the plan (name and title)] reviews this plan with employees at least once a year, when a weakness becomes apparent, and after every incident.

Cal. Labor Code § 6401.9