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Passed by the California Legislature on September 12, 2023, and enacted on July 1, 2024, Senate Bill 553 addresses the increasing incidents of workplace violence being reported across the state. If you operate in California, it’s important to understand how this bill changed compliance expectations for your business and adjust accordingly.
There are over 53 million lone workers across the US, Canada and Europe, or 15% of the workforce.
The bill works to protect employees in the field by addressing the issues from several angles, including:
These goals are achieved through concrete requirements including maintaining a log of violent incidents against employees; training staff on how to reach help from emergency services; implementing temporary workplace restraining orders as necessary; identifying and training those responsible for an injury and illness prevention plan; implementing reporting mechanisms for employees and training appropriately; and establishing procedures for responding to violent emergencies specifically.
Did you know? 19% of lone workers reported having difficulty getting help after a workplace incident.
Working alone exposes individuals to various risks, including traumatic events, challenging physical environments, and incidents of violence and aggression. Employers must prioritize the safety and well-being of lone workers by implementing measures to address these hazards and ensure compliance with state-based regulations.
Reading through all the detail in the bill can be overwhelming. With the right tool, however, establishing and implementing your workplace violence response plan can be easier than it seems. WorkSafe Guardian’s employee safety alert system makes compliance a piece of cake.
Let’s imagine your employee is visiting a customer for an installation. When they arrive, the customer is aggravated and starts becoming physical. If the employee has been equipped with WorkSafe Guardian’s alert system, they can trigger an incident alert immediately and discretely – without even taking out their phone. Once the alert is triggered, our response center jumps into action, following the established incident protocol and engaging the correct emergency responders while informing the employer. As the incident develops, our platform continues logging each action taken until it’s resolved and carefully detailed with timestamps in the final report.
Ensuring compliance with SB 553 is a must for Organizations in California, but it doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. If you’re interested in learning more about the bill, and how WorkSafe Guardian makes compliance a breeze, schedule time with our sales team today.
"If a person feels unsafe, it’s just as bad as them being unsafe. This app actually contributes to them feeling safer in the workplace."
Find out more about keeping your lone workers safe with WorkSafe Guardian.
WorkSafe Guardian provides an all-in-one solution with a smartphone duress app and client management portal backed by an alert response monitoring platform with the ability to utilize your own 24/7 monitoring. The perfect solution for Central Monitoring Stations reselling to their clients or large enterprise to protect their frontline employees.
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