SB 553 Training Requirements: What Employees Must Learn
SB 553 requires specific workplace violence prevention training for all employees. Learn the required topics, frequency, and documentation standards.
Required Training Topics
SB 553 training must cover specific topics — general workplace safety training does not satisfy this requirement. Your training program must address the content of your specific WVPP and where employees can access it, how to report workplace violence concerns using your established procedures, how to recognize the warning signs and risk factors for each type of workplace violence, de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques appropriate to your workplace, emergency response procedures including when and how to contact law enforcement, and the protections against retaliation for employees who report workplace violence.
Training Frequency
Training must occur at three specific times. Initial training is required when the plan is first established or when a new employee starts. Additional training is triggered when new workplace violence hazards are identified — for example, after an incident or when your business changes in a way that creates new risks. Annual refresher training must be provided at least once per year for all covered employees.
Documentation Requirements
Cal/OSHA can ask to see your training records during any inspection. You should document the date and duration of each training session, the names and signatures of all attendees, the name and qualifications of the trainer, the specific topics covered, and any employee questions and the answers provided. Maintaining these records digitally makes them easier to produce during an inspection and demonstrates systematic compliance.