Home » SB 553 California Workplace Violence Prevention Training
California employers will face significant fines for failing to adhere to this new law SB 553. Under Cal/OSHA’s penalty structure, for serious violations, these fines are initially $18,000 per violation, and may rise as high as $25,000 per violation!
ATTENTION HR PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESS OWNERS!
The new California Law SB 553 went into effect on July 1, 2024.
Failing to comply with SB 553 can result in fines as high as $25,000 per violation!
A.L.I.V.E. wants to ensure your success in building your mandatory Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP).
Our “Do-it-Yourself” template package allows you to fill in the blanks as you work toward becoming compliant with SB 553.
“I was referred by a trusted associate to check out ALIVE and I was happy that I did. They broke down exactly what was required of our business to ensure that we were compliant, provided all current and future paperwork that we will need, included videos and a webinar, and in my opinion went above and beyond to make sure our company and employees were safe. I will continue to use them for all future workplace violence requirements and recommend them to all others. Thank you, Michael, Ashley, and the whole ALIVE crew.”
– Garret Long, Hind Properties
SB 553 is a legislative measure aimed at enhancing workplace safety standards in California. It focuses on improving injury and illness prevention programs, by way of workplace violence prevention planning and training, to ensure the well-being of employees across various industries.
SB 553 applies to all employers operating in California with a workforce of 10 or more individuals present on-site.
Exceptions comprise hospitals, other healthcare facilities, and service categories and operations outlined in Section 3342 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations.
Employers in California could be subject to substantial fines for non-compliance with this legislation. According to Cal/OSHA’s penalty framework, fines for serious violations start at $18,000 per violation and could escalate to as much as $25,000!
SB 553 requires employees to be trained in workplace violence prevention, including how to report and respond to workplace violence.
While a corporate plan can suffice for companies with multiple locations, unique circumstances at each site might require individualized plans.
It’s suggested that SB 553 documents be kept separate for easier updates and compliance with extra requirements.
Compliance is required for all California locations, with no exemptions for out-of-state entities.
Hazard identification, evaluations, and corrections: 5 years
Incident investigation records: 5 years
Violent incident log: 5 years
Training records: 1 year
By purchasing our products, you agree to and acknowledge that you are responsible to read and understand all information within the SB553 Bill Text. You are also responsible to fill out all relevant information within the template to ensure that you cover all areas within the Workplace Violence Prevention Plan. You are not only expected to have a thorough plan, but you must offer training on this plan to all your employees, investigate and report any Violent Incidents, and keep a log of all incidents and training for several years. You agree not to hold A.L.I.V.E. LLC liable for the results of your development and implementation of these products within your business.
Please remember that we are here to help you and if you do not feel that you can build and implement your WVPP from our templates, we offer paid consultation services to assist you in getting this done.
California Senate Bill 553 (SB 553) made workplace violence prevention training mandatory for nearly every California employer beginning July 1, 2024. ALIVE’s free SB 553 California workplace violence prevention training gives HR leaders, safety officers, and small business owners a compliant, ready-to-deploy solution covering every required element of a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) – hazard identification, employee training, incident logs, de-escalation, and Cal/OSHA recordkeeping.
Our SB 553 training combines the proven ALIVE active shooter survival method with the Type 1 through Type 4 workplace violence taxonomy required by Cal/OSHA. Employees learn to recognize warning signs, report concerning behavior, de-escalate disputes, and respond decisively during an active shooter or violent intruder event. To accompany the training, we publish a downloadable SB 553 Workplace Violence Prevention Plan template that employers can customize in minutes.
Pairing the SB 553 workplace violence prevention training with hands-on response drills delivers real preparedness, not just paper compliance. Many California employers reinforce the online program with an on-site session of in-person active shooter survival training, ensuring staff don’t just know the WVPP but can act on it. ALIVE’s curriculum was built by Michael Julian, a 30-year security industry executive, and is used by businesses, schools, hospitals, and houses of worship across California.
Most learners complete the ALIVE online active shooter training course in 60 to 90 minutes. The course is self-paced, so employees, students, and individuals can stop, restart, and revisit modules at any time without losing progress.
Yes. Every learner who completes the online active shooter survival course earns a downloadable ALIVE certificate of completion. The certification supports OSHA general-duty compliance, California SB 553 workplace violence prevention training requirements, and many state and industry recordkeeping standards.
The course teaches the five-step ALIVE method (Assess, Leave, Impede, Violence, Expose) plus situational awareness, pre-incident indicators, communication during a shooting event, and post-incident actions. Lessons use real-world video scenarios and decision-point quizzes.
Yes. Volume licensing is available for organizations rolling out workplace active shooter training to teams of any size, from small offices to enterprise rollouts across multiple locations. Contact us for tiered pricing and a single-sign-on training portal.
Online training is excellent for foundational knowledge, fast onboarding, and annual refreshers. For maximum retention and hands-on response skills we recommend pairing it with our in-person active shooter survival training taught by certified ALIVE instructors.
Spanish version available
How To Respond Effectively To Workplace Violence
“As a retired 32 year law enforcement veteran, with several years of SWAT and tactical experience, I learned some different unique perspectives as it pertains to civilians dealing with active threat situations. Very good class for civilians who may have never experienced reacting to a life and death stressful situation.”
– Christopher C.
Assess the situation quickly
Leave the area if you can
Impede the shooter
Violence may be necessary
Expose your position carefully for safety
Creator of A.L.I.V.E.
A.L.I.V.E., which stands for Assess, Leave, Impede, Violence, and Expose, was created in 2014 when Michael began teaching his Active Shooter Survival philosophy throughout the United States. His book on the subject, 10 Minutes to Live: Surviving an Active Shooter Using A.L.I.V.E. was published in 2017 and the online version of the A.L.I.V.E. Training Program was launched in 2019 and is now part of the corporate security training program for companies throughout the world.
The A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training Program is a comprehensive training program designed to provide individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to survive an active shooter incident. Its emphasis on situational awareness and decision-making makes it a practical and effective approach to active shooter situations. By empowering individuals to take proactive measures to protect themselves and others, the program can help prevent tragedies and save lives.
