Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Services
Targeted workplace violence policies and practices tailored to your organization
Tailored Workplace Violence Prevention Solutions
No business wants to experience an active shooter incident or unknowingly bring in workers or third-party vendors who are involved in human trafficking, but risks like these that were once thought to be rare are becoming more common.
Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS) Risk Engineering professionals' partner with security experts and draw upon deep knowledge in planning for and preventing workplace violence so you can help keep your people safe. We help customers by:
- Developing security policies and procedures that are tailored to their business
- Providing prevention and response guidance for violent and traumatic events
- Assess technology capabilities for company notification, drills and training to support compliance
- Review methods and response capabilities to alert police and other authorities
We also offer program assessment and development to raise awareness of potential worker trafficking and exploitation.
Workplace Violence Prevention for Safer Workplaces
Workplace violence is defined as any act of threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, bullying or other threatening or disruptive behavior that occurs at a work site. 1
Who is at risk:
Customers, vendors, suppliers, visitors, and employees can be at risk, especially those who:
- Exchange money with the public
- Often interact with volatile, unstable people
- Work in an environment where alcohol is served
- Perform work duties alone and/or in areas that are isolated or have high crime rates
- Often work late at night
1 Traliant, Fear Factor: A 2024 Employee Survey Report on Workplace Violence, Harassment and Mental Health
What to Know About the New Regulations: California Bill SB553
SB 553 aims to improve workplace safety by requiring employers in California to implement specific measures to prevent and respond to workplace violence. Effective July 1, 2024, with Cal OSHA beginning enforcement on July 1, 2025, the bill requires employers to establish a comprehensive Workplace Violence Prevention Plan that addresses both physical and psychological harm Key Provisions:
- Employers must develop, implement, and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP).
- This plan must address procedures for reporting, responding to, and investigating workplace violence incidents.
- The plan must outline the individuals responsible for its implementation, methods for identifying and evaluating workplace violence hazards, procedures for reporting and responding to workplace violence, and procedures for annual reviews/audits.
- Employers must provide initial and annual training to employees on the prevention plan, how to report workplace violence incidents, and strategies to avoid physical harm.
- Additional training should be provided when new or unrecognized workplace violence hazards are identified.
- The plan must be written, easily accessible, and maintained for a minimum of five years.
- Employers are also required to maintain a violent incident log for every reported incident for a minimum of five years. Specific plan and incident log.
This ruling applies to any business operating in California with more than 15 employees. Non-compliance with SB553 could result in fines per violation. Employers are advised to review their existing workplace violence programs, validate, or develop these programs with a third-party, and effectively communicate the program internally and externally.
More states are anticipated to enact similar laws.
How ZRS can Guide Your Business to Safety and Compliance
Our holistic service helps companies reduce the likelihood of a workplace event, have an emergency response plan in place should it occur, and support employees afterward.
- Mental health and wellbeing assessment
- Evaluate enterprise-level policies, people and processes against ISO guidance for managing psychosocial risk
- Identify strengths and psychosocial hazards
- Tailored recommendations to improve workplace safety, employee experience, documented practices and role responsibilities
- Review and testing of existing emergency response and crisis communication plans
- Behavioral response planning for unexpected workplace events
- Training in all aspects of emergency response and crisis communications Creation of comprehensive emergency response protocols and practices
- Design and implementation of crisis communication policies and procedure
- Review for ISO compliance 14001 & 22361
On-demand video platform featuring:
- Workplace Violence: Recognition, warning signs and awareness Active Shooter and Workplace Violence: How to respond and react to indicators of potential violent behavior.
- California Workplace Violence SB 553: This program examines details of bill and how they effective the prevention of workplace violence.
- Workplace violence early warning signs: Manager Version includes a study guide.
Learn more about our vendor services from R3 Continuum
R3C Provides a number of services to our customers including Asessements, Policy Review and Development and Planning Services
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This solution is available in the United States but may not be available in other jurisdictions. For solution needs outside the United States, contact Zurich to be connected with a Zurich Resilience Solutions representative where available.