Our establishment’s Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) addresses the hazards known to be associated with the four types of workplace violence as defined by Labor Code (LC) section 6401.9.
Date of Last Review: July 1, 2024
Date of Last Revision(s): July 1, 2024
DEFINITIONS
Emergency - Unanticipated circumstances that can be life threatening or pose a risk of significant injuries to employees or other persons.
Engineering controls - An aspect of the built space or a device that removes a hazard from the workplace or creates a barrier between the employee and the hazard.
Log - The violent incident log required by LC section 6401.9.
Plan - The workplace violence prevention plan required by LC section 6401.9.
Serious injury or illness - Any injury or illness occurring in a place of employment or in connection with any employment that requires inpatient hospitalization for other than medical observation or diagnostic testing, or in which an employee suffers an amputation, the loss of an eye, or any serious degree of permanent disfigurement, but does not include any injury or illness or death caused by an accident on a public street or highway, unless the accident occurred in a construction zone.
Threat of violence - Any verbal or written statement, including, but not limited to, texts, electronic messages, social media messages, or other online posts, or any behavioral or physical conduct, that conveys an intent, or that is reasonably perceived to convey an intent, to cause physical harm or to place someone in fear of physical harm, and that serves no legitimate purpose.
Workplace violence - Any act of violence or threat of violence that occurs in a place of employment.
Workplace violence includes, but is not limited to, the following:
The threat or use of physical force against an employee that results in, or has a high likelihood of resulting in, injury, psychological trauma, or stress, regardless of whether the employee sustains an injury.
An incident involving a threat or use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, including the use of common objects as weapons, regardless of whether the employee sustains an injury.
The following four workplace violence types:
Type 1 violence - Workplace violence committed by a person who has no legitimate business at the worksite, and includes violent acts by anyone who enters the workplace or approaches employees with the intent to commit a crime.
Type 2 violence - Workplace violence directed at employees by customers, clients, patients, students, inmates, or visitors.
Type 3 violence - Workplace violence against an employee by a present or former employee, supervisor, or manager.
Type 4 violence - Workplace violence committed in the workplace by a person who does not work there, but has or is known to have had a personal relationship with an employee.
Workplace violence does not include lawful acts of self-defense or defense of others.
Work practice controls - Procedures and rules which are used to effectively reduce workplace violence hazards.
RESPONSIBILITY
The WVPP administrator, Service Workers LLC Service Team, and the Safety Officer has the authority and responsibility for implementing the provisions of this plan for Service Workers LLC. If there are multiple persons responsible for the plan, their roles will be clearly described.
Responsible Person(s) | Job Title/Position | WVPP Responsibility(ies) | |
Service Team | Primary worker support | Responsible for employee involvement and training; liaison for training requirements, updates, safety meetings. | |
Joe Mifsud | Safety Officer | Responsible for emergency response, hazard identification, and coordination with other employers; conducts safety inspections, coordinates emergency response procedures, and communicates with other employers about the plan. |
All managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing and maintaining the WVPP in their work areas and for answering employee questions about the WVPP.
EMPLOYEE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT
Service Workers LLC ensures the following policies and procedures to obtain the active involvement of employees and authorized employee representatives in developing and implementing the plan:
Management will work with and allow employees and authorized employee representatives to participate in:
Identifying, evaluating, and determining corrective measures to prevent workplace violence is done by:
Service Workers LLC Safety Committee has periodic safety meetings with employees and their representatives to discuss identification of workplace violence related concerns/hazards, evaluate those hazards and/or concerns, and how to correct them. These meetings could involve brainstorming sessions, discussions of recent incidents, and reviews of safety procedures.
Designing and implementing training will be conducted via
Employees are encouraged to participate in designing and implementing training programs, and their suggestions are incorporated into the training materials. For example, an employee might suggest a new training scenario based on a recent incident.
Annual Review and Training on Workplace Violence: Incorporate interactive exercises where employees can practice responding to various workplace violence scenarios. This hands-on approach allows them to apply their knowledge and skills in a controlled environment.
Q&A Sessions: Q&A sessions will be a part of the annual review and training to address any concerns or questions employees may have about workplace violence prevention. This encourages active participation and ensures that employees feel engaged and empowered.
Feedback Mechanism: Upon annual review and training on workplace violence the company will take feedback from employees so they can provide input on the effectiveness of the training/training program and suggest areas for improvement. This demonstrates that their opinions are valued and encourages ongoing engagement.
Reporting and investigating workplace violence incidents shall include but not be limited to the following:
Activate the Site Emergency Response System and/or call 911 upon immediate threats or dangers of workplace violence.
Secure the Scene: Ensure the safety of everyone involved and secure the scene to prevent further harm. This may involve removing individuals from the area or implementing temporary safety measures.
Document the Incident: Record detailed information about the incident, including the date, time, location, and individuals involved. Gather any available evidence such as witness statements, CCTV footage, and physical evidence.
Interview Witnesses: Interview witnesses who were present during the incident to gather their accounts of what happened. Ask open-ended questions and encourage them to provide as much detail as possible.
Interview the Victim and Perpetrator (if possible): Interview the victim of the violence to understand their perspective and gather information about the events leading up to the incident. If feasible, interview the perpetrator to obtain their side of the story.
Review Policies and Procedures: Evaluate whether workplace policies and procedures were followed before, during, and after the incident. Determine if there were any lapses in security measures or if preventive measures could have been implemented.
Assess Risk Factors: Identify any underlying risk factors or contributing factors that may have led to the incident. This could include issues such as workplace stress, conflicts between employees, or inadequate training on conflict resolution.
Compile Findings: Compile all the information gathered during the investigation into a comprehensive report. Include a summary of the incident, findings from interviews and evidence collection, analysis of contributing factors, and recommendations for preventive measures.
Implement Corrective Actions: Based on the findings of the investigation, implement corrective actions to address any deficiencies or vulnerabilities identified. This may involve updating policies and procedures, providing additional training to employees, or enhancing security measures.
Follow-Up and Monitoring: Monitor the effectiveness of the corrective actions implemented and conduct follow-up assessments to ensure that similar incidents are prevented in the future. Continuously review and update workplace violence prevention strategies to adapt to changing circumstances.
By following these steps, organizations can conduct thorough and effective investigations of workplace violence incidents, mitigate risks, and create a safer work environment for all employees.
Management will ensure that all workplace violence policies and procedures within this written plan are clearly communicated and understood by all employees. Managers and supervisors will enforce the rules fairly and uniformly.
All employees will follow all workplace violence prevention plan directives, policies, and procedures, and assist in maintaining a safe work environment. This includes but is not limited to reporting incidents or threats, following guidelines on conflict resolution, following security measures at the plant, and participating in trainings.
The plan shall be in effect at all times and in all work areas and be specific to the hazards and corrective measures for each work area and operation.
EMPLOYEE COMPLIANCE
Our system to ensure that employees comply with the rules and work practices that are designed to make the workplace more secure, and do not engage in threats or physical actions which create a security hazard for others in the workplace, include at a minimum:
Training employees, supervisors, and managers in the provisions of Service Workers LLC Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP)
Effective procedures to ensure that supervisory and nonsupervisory employees comply with the WVPP. This objective will be achieved through clear communication, thorough and refresher training, diligent enforcement of the program, and the implementation of accountability measures that establish transparent expectations within the initiative.
Provide retraining to employees whose safety performance is deficient with the WVPP.
Recognizing employees who demonstrate safe work practices that promote the WVPP in the workplace by using positive reinforcement and acknowledging employees through various means such as emails from Management or through providing personal accolades.
Discipline employees for failure to comply with the WVPP. (You can either refer to Service Workers LLC existing discipline process in the Injury Illness Prevention Program)
COMMUNICATION WITH EMPLOYEES
We recognize that open, two-way communication between our management team, staff, and other employers, about workplace violence issues is essential to a safe and productive workplace.
The following communication system is designed to facilitate a continuous flow of workplace violence prevention information between management and staff in a form that is readily understandable by all employees, and consists of one or more of the following:
New employee orientation includes workplace violence prevention policies and procedures.
Workplace violence prevention training programs.
Regularly scheduled meetings that address security issues and potential workplace violence hazards
Effective communication between employees and supervisors about workplace violence prevention and violence concerns through
Ensuring that supervisors and employees can communicate effectively and in the employees’ first language.
Periodic safety and training meetings
Written training materials and handouts
Written and or verbal instruction from management, or the Safety Administrator
Posted or distributed workplace violence prevention information.
How employees can report a violent incident, threat, or other workplace violence concern to employer or law enforcement without fear of reprisal or adverse action by:
Anonymously reporting a violent incident, threat, of other violence concerns.
Being provided contact information for who to call for emergency response per our Emergency Procedure document that has been established. This includes a precise access number, including how steps to follow to call 911.
Employees will not be prevented from accessing their mobile or other communication devices to seek emergency assistance, assess the safety of a situation, or communicate with a person to verify their safety. Employees’ concerns will be investigated in a timely manner, and they will be informed of the results of the investigation and any corrective actions to be taken.
This will be done via the reporting and investigating procedures outlined in the workplace violence program.
Updates on the status of investigations and corrective actions are provided to employees through email and at safety meetings. These updates could include information about the progress of investigations, the results of investigations, and any corrective actions taken.
Updates during daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly meetings with other employers in the building (at or near and around the same worksite) to discuss the plan and any updates. These meetings could involve sharing updates to the plan, discussing recent incidents, and coordinating training sessions.
Sharing training materials and incident reports with other employers to ensure a coordinated response to any incidents. This could involve sending copies of training materials and incident reports to other employers.
COORDINATION WITH OTHER EMPLOYERS
Service Workers LLC will implement the following effective procedures to coordinate implementation of its plan with other employers to ensure that those employers and employees understand their respective roles, as provided in the plan.
All employees will be trained on workplace violence prevention.
Workplace violence incidents involving any employee are reported, investigated, and recorded.
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE INCIDENT REPORTING PROCEDURE
Service Workers LLC will implement the following effective procedures to ensure that:
All threats or acts of workplace violence are reported to the site supervisor, who will inform the WVPP administrator, Service Workers LLC Service Team. This will be accomplished by communicating through the Service Workers LLC app. If that's not possible, employees will report incidents directly to the WVPP administrator, Service Workers LLC Service Team utilizing the Service Workers LLC app. The employee will then be prompted to complete the incident log. The log does not require submission of name or contact information and can be made anonymously.
Workplace Violence Reporting form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScjVbZj4aSAbWJXCSBTitWD735zuoFxGxVWiqPKwkbO2fcijQ/viewform
A strict non-retaliation policy is in place, and any instances of retaliation are dealt with swiftly and decisively. For example, an employee who retaliates against a coworker for reporting an incident could be disciplined by Service Workers LLC.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
Service Workers LLC has in place the following specific measures to handle actual or potential workplace violence emergencies:
If you feel that your life safety is at risk, don’t wait for an evacuation announcement, follow the protocol for facility evacuation and exit the facility. Remember that your personal safety is the number one priority.
Use available alarm systems and/or PA announcements to alert employees of the workplace violence threat and danger.
If a Stabbing, Shooting, or an Assault occurs:
Contact Law Enforcement (911) immediately, unless doing so will put you or anyone at the store at greater risk.
If warranted by the situation, move to a place of safety immediately, unless doing so would put you at greater risk.
If you witnessed the incident, try to remember the details (e.g., subject description, clothing description, vehicle description, license plate number) and notify management that you witnessed the incident. Write down any information that you remember while the incident is recent in your mind.
Remove all non-essential people from the area, unless doing so would put you or anyone at the store at greater risk.
If injuries have occurred, please follow MEDICAL EMERGENCY Procedures.
After the situation has ended, don’t touch anything in the area, as it could be evidence.
If the police have arrived, let them secure the area.
If the police have not arrived, block off the area of the incident using rope, tape, or whatever means are available.
Under no circumstances is anyone to follow the suspect out of the building or off the property
Service Workers LLC will have access to posted Emergency Numbers that include contact information for Police, Fire, Medical Emergencies including contact information for the Company Workplace Violence Prevention Coordinator and Management. Remember, If there is immediate danger, call for emergency assistance by dialing 911.
Service Workers LLC will follow the site evacuation plan as outlined via the site Emergency Response and Egress plan. This includes all areas of the facility and if viable, how to get to a safe employee meeting area located on the map.
In the event of an emergency, including a Workplace Violence Emergency, contact the following:
Responsible Person(s) | Job Title/Position | WVPP Responsibility(ies) | |
Service Team and | Primary worker support | Responsible for employee involvement and training; liaison for training requirements, updates, safety meetings. |
For urgent medical emergencies, dial 9-1-1.
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION
The following policies and procedures are established and required to be conducted by Service Workers LLC to ensure that workplace violence hazards are identified and evaluated:
Inspections shall be conducted when the plan is first established, after each workplace violence incident, and whenever the employer is made aware of a new or previously unrecognized hazard.
Review all submitted/reported concerns of potential hazards via:
Daily review of all submitted and reported concerns.
Workplace Violence Hazards or Safety suggestion box
Voicemail/email/text messages
Brought up and reviewed during scheduled Safety Committee meetings.
Periodic Inspections
Periodic inspections of workplace violence hazards will identify unsafe conditions and work practices. This may require assessment for more than one type of workplace violence. Periodic Inspections shall be conducted in partnership with client site supervisors.
Periodic inspections to identify and evaluate workplace violence and hazards will be performed by the following designated personnel in the following areas of the workplace:
Specific Person Name/Job Title | Area/Department/Specific location |
Joe Mifsud/Safety Officer | Main and Shared work areas |
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Inspections for workplace violence hazards include but not limited to assessing:
The exterior and interior of the workplace
The need for violence surveillance measures, such as mirrors and cameras.
Procedures for employee response from confronting violent persons or persons committing a criminal act.
Procedures for reporting suspicious persons or activities.
Effective location and functioning of emergency buttons and alarms.
Posting of emergency telephone numbers for law enforcement, fire, and medical services.
Whether employees have access to a telephone with an outside line.
Whether employees have effective escape routes from the workplace.
Whether employees have a designated safe area where they can go in an emergency.
Adequacy of workplace security systems, such as door locks, entry codes or badge readers, security windows, physical barriers, and restraint systems.
Frequency and severity of threatening or hostile situations that may lead to violent acts by persons who are service recipients of our establishment.
Effectiveness of systems and procedures that warn others of actual or potential workplace violence danger or that summon assistance, e.g., alarms or panic buttons.
The use of work practices such as the "buddy" system for specified emergency events.
The availability of employee escape routes.
How well our establishment's management and employees communicate with each other.
Access to and freedom of movement within the workplace by non-employees, including recently discharged employees or persons with whom one of our employees is having a dispute.
Frequency and severity of employees’ reports of threats of physical or verbal abuse by managers, supervisors, or other employees.
Any prior violent acts, threats of physical violence, verbal abuse, property damage or other signs of strain or pressure in the workplace.
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE HAZARD CORRECTION
Workplace violence hazards will be evaluated and corrected in a timely manner. Service Workers LLC will implement the following effective procedures to correct workplace violence hazards that are identified:
If an imminent workplace violence hazard exists that cannot be immediately abated without endangering employee(s), all exposed employee(s) will be removed from the situation except those necessary to correct the existing condition. Employees necessary to correct the hazardous condition will be provided with the necessary protection. If a workplace violence incident appears imminent and poses a risk of endangering employees, prompt action is essential. In such cases, dialing 911 is imperative, and ALL employees should seek shelter and safety immediately.
All corrective actions taken will be documented and dated on the appropriate forms including the Workplace Violence Incident Report.
Corrective measures for workplace violence hazards will be specific to a given work area. This can include:
Improve lighting around and at the workplace.
Post of signs notifying the public that cameras are monitoring the facility.
Utilize surveillance measures, such as cameras and mirrors, to provide information as to what is going on outside and inside the workplace and to dissuade criminal activity.
Hire security guards and have them patrol the workplace interior and perimeter.
Install security surveillance cameras in and around the workplace.
Provide workplace violence systems, such as door locks, violence windows, physical barriers, emergency alarms and restraint systems by:
Ensure the adequacy of workplace violence systems.
Post emergency telephone numbers for law enforcement, fire, and medical services.
Control, access to, and freedom of movement within, the workplace by non-employees, include recently discharged employees or persons with whom one of our employees is having a dispute.
Install effective systems to warn others of a violence danger or to summon assistance, e.g., alarms or panic buttons.
Ensure employees have access to a telephone with an outside line. Provide employee training/re-training(refreshers) on the WVPP, which could include but not limited to the following:
Recognizing and handling threatening or hostile situations that may lead to violent acts by persons who are service recipients of our establishment.
Ensure that all reports of violent acts, threats of physical violence, verbal abuse, property damage or other signs of strain or pressure in the workplace are handled effectively by management and that the person making the report is not subject to retaliation by the person making the threat.
Improve how well our establishment's management and employees communicate with each other.
Procedures for reporting suspicious persons, activities, and packages.
Provide/review employee, supervisor, and management training on emergency action procedures.
Provide/review employee, supervisor, and management training on emergency action procedures.
Ensure adequate employee escape routes.
Increase awareness by employees, supervisors, and managers of the warning signs of potential workplace violence.
Ensure that employee disciplinary the potential for workplace violence.
Establish a policy for prohibited practices.
Limit the amount of cash on hand and use time access safes for large bills.
Provide procedures for a "buddy" system for specified emergency events.
PROCEDURES FOR POST INCIDENT RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATION
After a workplace incident, the WVPP administrator or their designee will implement the following post-incident procedures:
Visit the scene of an incident as soon as safe and practicable.
Interviews involved parties, such as employees, witnesses, law enforcement, and/or security personnel.
Review security footage of existing security cameras if applicable.
Examine the workplace for security risk factors associated with the incident, including any previous reports of inappropriate behavior by the perpetrator.
Determine the cause of the incident.
Take corrective action to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
Record the findings and ensure corrective actions are taken.
Obtain any reports completed by law enforcement.
The violent incident log will be used for every workplace violence incident and will include information, such as:
The date, time, and location of the incident.
The workplace violence type or types involved in the incident.
A detailed description of the incident.
A classification of who committed the violence, including whether the perpetrator was a client or customer, family or friend of a client or customer, stranger with criminal intent, coworker, supervisor or manager, partner or spouse, parent or relative, or other perpetrator.
A classification of circumstances at the time of the incident, including, but not limited to, whether the employee was completing usual job duties, working in poorly lit areas, rushed, working during a low staffing level, isolated or alone, unable to get help or assistance, working in a community setting, or working in an unfamiliar or new location.
A classification of where the incident occurred, such as in the workplace, parking lot or other area outside the workplace, or other area.
The type of incident, including, but not limited to, whether it involved any of the following:
Physical attack without a weapon, including, but not limited to, biting, choking, grabbing, hair pulling, kicking, punching, slapping, pushing, pulling, scratching, or spitting.
Attack with a weapon or object, including, but not limited to, a firearm, knife, or other object.
Threat of physical force or threat of the use of a weapon or other object.
Sexual assault or threat, including, but not limited to, rape, attempted rape, physical display, or unwanted verbal or physical sexual contact.
Animal attack.
Other.
Consequences of the incident, including, but not limited to:
Whether security or law enforcement was contacted and their response.
Actions taken to protect employees from a continuing threat or from any other hazards identified as a result of the incident.
Information about the person completing the log, including their name, job title, and the date completed.
Support and resources, such as counseling services, are provided to affected employees (These resources could include referrals to counseling services, information about employee assistance programs, and time off work if necessary
We will also ensure that no personal identifying information is recorded or documented in the written investigation report. This includes information which would reveal identification of any person involved in a violent incident, such as the person’s name, address, electronic mail address, telephone number, social security number, or other information that, alone or in combination with other publicly available information, reveals the person’s identity.
TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION
All employees, including managers and supervisors, will have training and instruction on general and job-specific workplace violence practices. These sessions could involve presentations, discussions, and practical exercises. Training and instruction will be provided as follows:
When the WVPP is first established.
Annually to ensure all employees understand and comply with the plan.
Whenever a new or previously unrecognized workplace violence hazard has been identified and when changes are made to the plan. The additional training may be limited to addressing the new workplace violence hazard or changes to the plan.
Service Workers LLC will provide its employees with training and instruction on the definitions found on page 1 of this plan and the requirements listed below:
The employer’s WVPP, how to obtain a copy of the employer’s plan at no cost, and how to participate in development and implementation of the employer’s plan.
How to report workplace violence incidents or concerns to the employer or law enforcement without fear of reprisal.
Workplace violence hazards specific to the employees’ jobs, the corrective measures [name of employer] has implemented, how to seek assistance to prevent or respond to violence, and strategies to avoid physical harm.
The violent incident log and how to obtain copies of records pertaining to hazard identification, evaluation and correction, training records, and violent incident logs.
Opportunities Service Workers LLC has for interactive questions and answers with a person knowledgeable about the Service Workers LLC WVPP
Strategies to avoid/prevent workplace violence and physical harm, such as:
How to recognize workplace violence hazards including the risk factors associated with the four types of workplace violence.
Ways to defuse hostile or threatening situations.
How to recognize alerts, alarms, or other warnings about emergency conditions and how to use identified escape routes or locations for sheltering.
Employee routes of escape.
Emergency medical care provided in the event of any violent act upon an employee.
Post-event trauma counseling for employees desiring such assistance.
Note: Employers must use training material appropriate in content and vocabulary to the educational level, literacy, and language of employees.
EMPLOYEE ACCESS TO THE WRITTEN WVPP
Service Workers LLC ensures that the WVPP plan shall be in writing and shall be available and easily accessible to employees, authorized employee representatives, and representatives of Cal/OSHA at all times.
Whenever an employee or designated representative requests a copy of the written WVPP, we will provide the requester with an electronic copy of the WVPP, unless the employee or designated representative requests a printed copy.
RECORDKEEPING
Service Workers LLC will:
Create and maintain records of workplace violence hazard identification, evaluation, and correction, for a minimum of five (5) years.
Create and maintain training records for a minimum of one (1) year and include the following:
Training dates.
Contents or a summary of the training sessions.
Names and qualifications of persons conducting the training.
Names and job titles of all persons attending the training sessions.
Maintain violent incident logs for a minimum of five (5) years.
Maintain records of workplace violence incident investigations for a minimum of five (5) years.
The records shall not contain medical information per subdivision (j) of section 56.05 of the Civil Code.
All records of workplace violence hazard identification, evaluation, and correction; training, incident logs and workplace violence incident investigations required by LC section 6401.9(f), shall be made available to Cal/OSHA upon request for examination and copying.
EMPLOYEE ACCESS TO RECORDS
The following records shall be made available to employees and their representatives, upon request and without cost, for examination and copying within 15 calendar days of a request:
Records of workplace violence hazard identification, evaluation, and correction.
Training records.
Violent incident logs.
REVIEW AND REVISION OF THE WVPP
The Service Workers LLC WVPP will be reviewed for effectiveness:
At least annually.
When a deficiency is observed or becomes apparent.
After a workplace violence incident.
As needed.
Review and revision of the WVPP will include the procedures listed in the EMPLOYEE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT section of this WVPP, as well as the following procedures to obtain the active involvement of employees and authorized employee representatives in reviewing the plan’s effectiveness:
Review of Service Workers LLC’s WVPP should include, but is not limited to:
Review of incident investigations and the violent incident log.
Assessment of the effectiveness of security systems, including alarms, emergency response, and security personnel availability (if applicable).
Review that violence risks are being properly identified, evaluated, and corrected. Any necessary revisions are made promptly and communicated to all employees.