Why Your Business Needs a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) Now
All businesses must have a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) in place. As of 2025, Cal/OSHA has started enforcing new workplace violence prevention mandates, making it crucial for employers and HR professionals to ensure compliance. Failing to implement an effective WVPP could put your employees at risk and lead to penalties, legal consequences, and reputational damage.
Understanding the Workplace Violence Prevention Requirements
Cal/OSHA’s new regulations aim to reduce workplace violence by requiring written prevention plans, employee training, and accountability measures. However, the model WVPP initially provided by Cal/OSHA has faced multiple delays, leaving many businesses unsure about how to meet compliance standards. Employers must take proactive steps to create and enforce their own policies to protect their workforce.
What Should a Strong WVPP Include?
To ensure compliance and workplace safety, your WVPP should address the following key components:
1. Clear Roles & Responsibilities
- Identify who is responsible for overseeing workplace violence prevention.
- Assign accountability for policy enforcement, reporting, and training.
2. Risk Assessment & Hazard Identification
- Conduct workplace assessments to identify potential threats or security gaps.
- Address risks specific to your industry, location, and workforce structure.
3. Prevention & Response Strategies
- Establish protocols for identifying, reporting, and addressing threats.
- Outline emergency response procedures, including evacuation plans and security measures.
4. Training & Education
- Provide annual training for employees and managers on identifying warning signs, de-escalation techniques, and emergency response.
- Align training with other compliance programs, such as sexual harassment prevention, to streamline efforts.
5. Incident Reporting & Investigation
- Implement clear procedures for employees to report incidents confidentially.
- Establish an investigation protocol to address threats and ensure corrective actions are taken.
What Employers Need to Know About Cal/OSHA Enforcement
Although enforcement was initially lax in 2024 due to delays in issuing model policies, Cal/OSHA is expected to ramp up audits and enforcement in 2025. This means businesses should be fully prepared with a comprehensive, written WVPP that meets legal requirements.
Key enforcement priorities include:
- Ensuring your WVPP is written and accessible to employees.
- Training all employees on workplace violence prevention annually.
- Demonstrating accountability through designated roles and compliance documentation.
Steps to Take Now
- Review and update your workplace safety policies to align with WVPP requirements.
- Work with legal counsel to draft or refine your WVPP.
- Schedule employee training sessions to ensure awareness and preparedness.
- Monitor regulatory updates to stay ahead of compliance requirements.
Protect Your Business & Employees Today
At Koegle Law Group, we specialize in employment law compliance and can help your business develop a legally sound Workplace Violence Prevention Plan and even do your employee training. Don’t wait for an audit—take action now to safeguard your workplace.
Need legal guidance? Contact us today to ensure compliance. https://www.koeglelaw.com/contact/
Call us at (661) 362-0813
