How to Conduct Your SB 553 Annual WVPP Review

Step-by-step guide to conducting and documenting the annual WVPP review required by SB 553, including what to evaluate and how to update your plan.

Quick Answer

SB 553 requires annual review of your Workplace Violence Prevention Plan plus additional reviews after any workplace violence incident. The review must evaluate whether the plan reflects current workplace conditions, whether training is current, whether the VIL shows emerging patterns, whether hazard corrections are effective, and whether procedures remain appropriate. Findings and any plan modifications must be documented.

When Reviews Are Required

Your WVPP must be reviewed at least once per calendar year and after any workplace violence incident — including threats and near-misses, not just physical assaults. If you experience multiple incidents, each triggers a review requirement. Best practice is to schedule your annual review for the same month each year and conduct incident-triggered reviews within 30 days of the event.

The 7-Point Review Checklist

1. Workplace changes: Has your business added locations, changed operations, or modified the physical workspace? 2. Staffing changes: Have responsible persons changed? Has significant turnover affected who needs training? 3. Incident analysis: Review VIL entries since last review for patterns or recurring issues. 4. Hazard reassessment: Are identified hazards still accurate? Have new hazards emerged? 5. Training currency: Are all employees trained within the last 12 months? Are records complete? 6. Procedure effectiveness: Did emergency procedures, reporting procedures, and corrective actions work as intended? 7. Employee feedback: Have employees raised concerns or suggestions about the plan?

Documenting the Review

Document the review with: date of review, names and titles of all participants, each review item evaluated with findings, specific plan modifications made based on findings, effective date of any changes, and signature of the responsible person approving the updated plan. Keep review documentation with your WVPP — inspectors will ask to see it.

Summary

SB 553 requires annual review of your Workplace Violence Prevention Plan plus additional reviews after any workplace violence incident. The review must evaluate whether the plan reflects current workplace conditions, whether training is current, whether the VIL shows emerging patterns, whether hazard corrections are effective, and whether procedures remain appropriate. Findings and any plan modifications must be documented.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss my annual review deadline?

Missing the annual review is a citable violation. If Cal/OSHA inspects and your most recent documented review is more than 12 months old, you can be cited. However, conducting a late review is always better than not conducting one at all.

Do employees need to be involved in the annual review?

Yes. Employee involvement is required in WVPP development and review. Include frontline employees who can speak to current workplace conditions, not just management. Document who participated and how their input was incorporated.

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