Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

The SF State Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) addresses workplace violence by raising awareness, improving reporting procedures and implementing protective measures.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workplace violence affects nearly 2 million American workers annually, and is the second leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States.

California SB 553 caused the California Labor Code Section 6401.9 to be enacted.

While there is no Cal/OSHA regulation as yet, the labor code requires that starting July 1, 2024, the majority of employers in California must establish, implement, and maintain a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan that includes the following elements:

  • Prohibiting employee retaliation
  • Accepting and responding to reports of workplace violence
  • Employee workplace violence training and communication
  • Emergency response
  • Workplace violence hazard assessments
  • Other requirements, such as maintaining a Violent Incident Log

San Francisco State University is committed to providing a working environment that minimizes the potential for workplace violence and other safety or security risks. The university does not tolerate any type of workplace violence committed by or against employees. The SF State Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) describes procedures that both mitigate the threat of violence in the workplace and enable prompt and effective response to reported incidents.

The WVPP Administrator is the Senior Associate Vice-President for Human Resources who is responsible for implementation and overall coordination of the WVPP. Section V of the WVPP identifies other university administrators who have responsibilities under the WVPP.

Elements of the WVPP

Workplace Violence: Any “act of violence or threat of violence that occurs in a place of employment. This includes, but is not limited to, the following actions, whether or not an employee sustains an injury.

  • The threat or use of physical force against an employee that results in, or is likely to result in, injury, psychological trauma, or stress.
  • An incident involving a threat or use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, including the use of common objects as weapons.
  • The four common types of workplace violence are defined in the labor code.

Types of Workplace Violence

Type 1 Violence: Workplace violence committed by a person who has no legitimate business at the worksite, including violent acts by anyone who enters the workplace or approaches workers with the intent to commit a crime.

Type 2 Violence: Workplace violence directed at employees by customers, clients, contractors, patients, students, 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.

The WVPP requires that violent incidents and threats of violence in the workplace be reported, tracked, and corrective actions documented.

To report a workplace violent incident, use the online "Report of a Workplace Violent Incident" form.

Supervisors and managers who are made aware of a workplace violent incident (act or threat) are required to report it using the online "Report a Workplace Violent Incident" form.

  • Individuals may report anonymously using the online form, but providing contact information can help with the investigation.
  • Retaliation against an employee who reports a workplace violent incident is prohibited.

The submitted report is sent to the WVPP Records Administrator who will forward the report to relevant groups for evaluation and investigation.

Reporting Links

Contact the WVPP Records Administrator, Enterprise Risk Management, in writing via email.

Note:

The WVPP is in effect as of July 1, 2024. A Workplace Violent Incident Log spreadsheet has been created but is still under administrative review. Should a workplace violent incident be reported, it will be recorded on the current version of the Log.

 

A workplace violence restraining order can be granted against anyone who has been violent or threatened violence against one or more employees at a workplace. Only the employer may file for a workplace violence restraining order.

Questions? Contact the WVPP Administrator, Ingrid Williams at icwilliams@sfsu.edu.

In the event of a workplace violence emergency, the University will communicate through alerts sent to members of the University community through the Blackboard Connect emergency notification system (SFSU Alert).

For more details on emergency communication, see Section VIII C. of the WVPP

Also, check the SFSU Office of Emergency Services (OES) website.

Contacts for questions or concerns about the SF State WVPP are listed below. For a complete list, view Section V of the WVPP.

Human Resources

Environment, Health & Safety

Enterprise Risk Management

 

See Section X of the SFSU WVPP for more information.

Creating a work environment that minimizes negative feelings such as isolation, resentment or hostility; recognizing performance or conduct that may represent warning signs; and intervening early can do a lot to prevent violence in the workplace among employees.

More information on preventing workplace violence and de-escalation is coming soon.

The CSU has created a workplace violence prevention curriculum that the university will assign to all employees, including auxiliary employees, on or after July 1, 2024.

Training is required when the WVPP is first implemented and annually thereafter.

Section VII (c) of the WVPP provides more details about the content and frequency of training.

Management will work with and allow employees and authorized employee representatives to participate in identifying potential workplace violence hazards and developing corrective measures. Employees are encouraged to recommend improvements in training, reporting and communication of WVPP elements to the campus community.

SF State will ask for input during campus safety meetings, training presentations, and violent incident investigations. Security concerns will be investigated in a timely manner and employees will be informed of the results.

More information about employee involvement and compliance expectations with the WVPP is available in Section VII of the WVPP.

Emergency Situation: If you or others are in immediate danger, contact University Police. Dial 415.338.2222 from mobile telephones. Dial 9-1-1 from campus landlines. UPD dispatchers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In university locations other than the main campus, dial 9-1-1 for local emergency response.