workplace violence plan

A workplace violence prevention plan should include several key components to ensure employee safety. These components include emergency response protocols, training provisions, and procedures to identify, evaluate, and correct workplace violence hazards. The plan must be in effect at all times and specific to the hazards and corrective measures for each work area and operation. [2] [2]

The plan should also feature procedures for post-incident response and investigation, allowing for annual plan reviews or when deficiencies are observed or after a workplace violence incident. [2]

Employers should maintain a log of all workplace violence incidents, even if no injury results, including the incident's date, time, and location, the type of violence (Type 1, 2, 3, and/or 4), and a detailed description of the incident. [2]

The log should also classify who committed the violence, the circumstances at the time, where it occurred, specific characteristics (physical attacks, weapons, threats), consequences, and steps taken to protect employees. Personal identifying information must be excluded from the log. [2]

Employers must provide effective, understandable training to employees, covering the plan, how to obtain a copy, and how to participate in its development and implementation. Training must be provided initially and annually thereafter. [2]

Training should also cover definitions and requirements of Labor Code section 6401.9, how to report incidents without fear of retaliation, job-specific violence hazards, the purpose of the violent incident log, and opportunities for interactive discussions. [4]

Employers must have a written plan easily accessible to employees, authorized representatives, and Cal/OSHA representatives. Records of hazard identification, evaluation, and correction, as well as training records and violent incident logs, must be maintained for specified periods. [4]

There are four types of workplace violence:

• Type 1: Violence committed by someone with no legitimate business at the worksite, including those intending to commit a crime.
• Type 2: Violence directed at employees by customers, clients, patients, students, inmates, or visitors.
• Type 3: Violence against an employee by a present or former employee, supervisor, or manager.
• Type 4: Violence committed by someone who doesn't work there but has or had a personal relationship with an employee. [3] [1]