This feature article is tailored for California employers, HR professionals, and small business owners. It offers an in-depth examination of the implications and requirements of the new SB 553 mandates. We aim to inform and equip employees and employers with the necessary tools to foster a safer workplace environment in compliance with the latest legislative standards of SB 553 California.

The Unsettling Trend of Active Shooter Incidents

Active shooter incidents have left an indelible mark on society, challenging our perceptions of safety and security. Statistics and headlines constantly remind us of the vulnerability of public spaces, including workplaces, to such threats. This unfortunate history underscores employers’ need to understand their grave responsibility for safeguarding their employees, especially within California.

Over the last five years, California has witnessed an alarming trend in active shooter events, reflecting a broader national crisis. These incidents have steadily escalated not only in frequency but also in the severity of their impacts on communities and workplaces alike. Each event is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of such threats and the critical importance of preparedness and response strategies in the face of unimaginable circumstances. While precise numbers fluctuate with ongoing investigations and classifications, the trend underscores an urgent call for responsible action and awareness among all sectors of society, particularly within the realms of business and employment.

Business environments have not been immune to the tragic trend of active shooter events, with numerous incidents occurring in places where people work and conduct business. From small businesses to large corporate offices, retail stores, and hospitality venues, these settings have become sites of unforeseen workplace violence, profoundly affecting employees, customers, and the broader business community.

These workplace violence incidents serve as a harrowing reminder of the vulnerability of workspaces to such acts and the need for comprehensive workplace violence prevention law. These events have catalyzed a reassessment of workplace violence standards, emphasizing the importance of emergency preparedness, threat assessment capabilities, and the fostering of a proactive security culture within business entities. Ultimately, this leads to higher workplace violence standards and safer working environments for employees and employers.

What is the SB553 template in California law?

SB 553 California was introduced to ensure businesses with more than ten employees can proactively prepare for potential active shooter situations. Under this SB 553 California Labor Code section, employers must include active shooter response training within their workplace safety plans by following the SB 553 template by July 1, 2024.

The purpose of SB 553 California is two-fold. First, it aims to increase workplace safety by fostering a better understanding of how individuals can respond effectively during an active shooter incident, potentially saving lives. Second, it helps employers fulfill their legal duty to provide a safe workplace for employees. Both aims are crucial in mitigating the impacts of an active shooter event and promoting a culture of safety in the workplace.

Compliance with SB 553 California is not just a legal obligation but also a moral one. Employers with over ten employees must take concrete steps to adhere to the new requirements.

This includes:

• Implementing and establishing a comprehensive active shooter plan that integrates with the existing Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and the SB 553 template.
• Organizing regular active shooter response training sessions that empower employees with knowledge and practical skills.
• Communicating and documenting all safety procedures and violent events to ensure the workforce is fully aware of the active shooter protocols.

Documentation and record-keeping of a violent incident log play pivotal roles in demonstrating compliance with the SB553 template should the need arise. Employer responsibilities are incumbent upon maintaining thorough records of training sessions, employee acknowledgments, and updates to safety protocols.

The passage of SB553 California is also a notable development due to its proactive approach to addressing active shooter situations. This law recognizes that while prevention is ideal, preparedness and response strategies are equally necessary for minimizing harm during unpredictable events. By requiring employers to include active shooter training in their workplace safety plans, SB553 California creates a foundation for preparedness and response efforts. Additionally, the law encourages businesses to review and identify updates to their safety plans regularly, ensuring that they are equipped to handle any potential emergency.

Crafting an Effective Active Shooter Training Program

To conform with SB553 California, training programs must be systematic and cater to the distinctive characteristics of each workplace. Employers should consider the following steps when developing their active shooter training:

• Assess the specific risks pertinent to their workplace
• Engaging qualified professionals to conduct the training
• Ensuring that the training is accessible and understandable to all employees
• Conducting drills and simulations to provide real-life scenario training
• Continuously reviewing and updating training content in response to new threats or advice from law enforcement agencies

Active shooter training programs should not be seen as one-off activities but rather as ongoing educational initiatives that evolve with changing circumstances and improvements in safety practices.

Active shooter training is a crucial component of workplace safety in our current society. By taking the necessary steps to comply with state laws and implementing comprehensive training programs, employers can create a safer environment for their employees and reduce the risk of a devastating active shooter event. Remember, preparedness is key in mitigating the impact of any emergency situation, and this includes being proactive about active shooter training. So, don’t wait until it’s too late – start implementing these strategies now to protect your workplace and your employees. Let’s work together to make our workplaces safer for everyone.

Workplace Violence Hazards

Identifying workplace violence and mitigating potential hazards is essential in preventing workplace violence, including active shooter incidents. Employers should be vigilant about the following:

Ignoring Signs of Employee Distress: Not addressing signs of emotional or psychological distress in employees can escalate to violent behavior. Regular check-ins and providing support resources can mitigate this risk.

Lack of Reporting Mechanisms: Start a confidential violence incident log where employees have a clear, anonymous way to report concerns of violence or threatening behavior without fear of retribution.

Inadequate Conflict Resolution Training: Without proper training, employees may not know how to defuse potentially violent situations before they escalate.

Neglecting Workplace Security Measures: Effective security measures, such as controlled access points, security cameras, and the presence of security personnel, are critical in deterring potential aggressors.

Failing to Establish a Clear Workplace Violence Policy: A well-communicated policy helps create a culture of safety and respect, providing clear protocols for preventing and responding to violence.

By proactively identifying and addressing these hazards, employers can significantly enhance workplace safety and prevent workplace violence incidents, including the direst scenarios involving active shooters.

With the new SB 553 California compliance coming into effect, employers and HR professionals must confront the complexities of active shooter dangers. It’s not merely about compliance—it’s about community, foresight, and the steadfast pursuit of protecting employees and saving lives.

Engaging with legal counsel or safety experts is advisable for detailed guidance on navigating the specifics of the SB553 template and ensuring your business complies with the California senate bill and other labor laws in California. They can provide personalized advice and solutions to integrate 553 California requirements seamlessly into your workforce’s fabric, adding resilience and responsiveness to your organization’s ethos.

Remember, when it comes to workplace safety, especially avoiding workplace violence hazards, it is not about reacting to threats but about being ahead of them. Safety must come first—it is a good business practice and our moral imperative.

A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Training specializes in consultation and has created a DIY SB 553 package, which includes everything you will need to work towards becoming compliant with this new law. Watch the video above for more information regarding the upcoming SB 553 compliance and our custom DIY templates that will allow you to fill in the blanks as you work towards becoming compliant with the new law.

For additional resources and guidance, we encourage you to visit ActiveShooterSurvivalTraining.com for advanced in-person and online training modules, a certified active shooter survival instructor course, and our best-selling book “10 Minutes To Live” by founder Michael Julian.

This blog originally appeared on ActiveShooterSurvialTraining.com

Last year, retail crime hit the headlines with an unprecedented surge of ‘flash rob’ events that left many concerned. The sheer audacity of it all, from the Home Depot in Lakewood, California where a group of eight made off with $400 worth of tools, to the Best Buy near Minneapolis where 30 people swarmed in and grabbed electronics. But, in this era of social media, these events were just the tip of the iceberg, generating riveting TV coverage that quickly spread like wildfire across the nation.

As we gear up for another holiday season, it’s imperative that we examine retail crime trends and patterns to develop effective strategies that can combat the menace. But, before we do that, let’s look at the impact of the pandemic and the evolving violence patterns. Are there any new profiles emerging? How will inflation and a potential recession impact retail crime? If retail crime is out of control, what do we do about it? These are just some of the questions we must address.

According to the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) study conducted in November 2021, the situation is quite dire. For instance, nearly $69 billion worth of products were stolen from retailers in 2019, pre-COVID. US retail crime resulted in $125.7 billion in lost economic activity, 658,375 fewer jobs, and almost $39.3 billion in wages and benefits paid to workers. This situation has also cost federal and state governments nearly $15 billion in personal and business tax revenues, not including the lost sales taxes.

Moreover, nearly 67 percent of asset protection managers at leading retailers surveyed reported a moderate to considerable increase in organized retail crime. In addition, 80 percent of them believe that it will only get worse in the future. Academic research suggests that most retail thefts represent crimes of opportunity, meaning that people steal when it’s easy to do so. Other factors that contribute to this include poor economic conditions and dissatisfaction among workers. However, professional criminals have identified the availability of anonymous online marketplaces as a way to easily fence goods, and prosecutorial changes as significant factors contributing to the growth in organized retail crime.

Interestingly, the growth in online marketplaces is highly correlated (61 percent) to the number of reported shoplifting events each year. Also, the retail categories most susceptible to shoplifting activities are the same ones that are most sought after through online marketplaces.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) reveals that ORC costs retailers an average of $720,000 for every $1 billion in sales as of 2020, up from $450,000 five years earlier.

Moreover, the 2021 NRF Retail Security Survey highlights some of the findings in the RILA study. For example, about 69 percent of retailers said they had seen an increase in ORC activity over the past year. They cited reasons such as COVID-19, policing, changes to sentencing guidelines, and the growth of online marketplaces for the increase in ORC activity.

Retailers also report that these gangs are becoming more aggressive and violent than in previous years. Sixty-five percent of respondents noted the increase in violence, while 37 percent said ORC gangs were much more aggressive than in the past. For comparison, in 2019, only 57 percent said ORC gangs were more aggressive, while 31 percent said they were much more aggressive.

The latest retail theft survey from Hayes International revealed that in 2021, retailers moved away from apprehensions and focused more on recoveries. Shoplifting apprehensions were down just over 16 percent, while overall shoplifting recoveries were up 31 percent. Furthermore, per incident case values were substantially higher in 2021.

Interestingly, the amount of theft by an unchecked dishonest employee will increase by 58 percent every month, on average. Technology is being increasingly used to combat theft, and there has been a dramatic shift in investment in people resources between 2020 and 2021.

Retailers now face new risks and threats that have become a priority, such as mall/store violence/shooting incidents (82 percent), cyber-related incidents (76 percent), internal theft (53 percent), gift card fraud (47 percent), and return fraud (43 percent). These new services that expanded during the pandemic also carry risks. In terms of fraud, retailers reported the most significant increase in fraud from multichannel sales like BOPIS, with 39 percent indicating it as a concern in 2021 compared to 19 percent in 2020.

In-store sales fraud dropped from 49 percent to 28 percent from 2020 to 2021, while online-only sales fraud remained steady at 26 percent. Shockingly, retail crime is not isolated to large chains, as 54 percent of small business owners reported an increase in shoplifting in 2021.

Violence is increasingly becoming a factor in retail crime, as evidenced by the 2021 RILA study. Nearly 86 percent of respondents said that an organized retail criminal has verbally threatened an associate with bodily harm. Almost 76 percent reported that an organized retail criminal has physically assaulted an associate, while nearly 76 percent surveyed said that a criminal has threatened the use of a weapon against an associate. Over 40 percent of APMs said that an organized retail criminal has used a weapon to harm an associate.

2021 was another violent retail year in US retail, with incidents up 9 percent and fatalities up 14 percent from the previous year. Of the 595 fatalities in 2021, 18 percent were suspects, 53 percent were customers, 26 percent were store associates, and 3 percent were LE/LP/Security. Alarming, both customer and associate deaths were up 24 percent in 2021 when compared to 2020.

Fifty percent of the retail fatalities were inside the store or mall, while 45 percent were in parking lots, and 5 percent died off-premises. The negative impact of this violence is reflected in employee surveys, where 80 percent of workers experienced or witnessed hostile behavior from customers when staff tried enforcing COVID-19 safety measures. Thirty-nine percent of workers were leaving or had already left their jobs because of concerns with “hostility and harassment from customers.” The survey was conducted between October 2020 and May 2021.

To conclude, safety is a critical ingredient in a successful retail deployment model, and the alternatives can be costly on multiple levels. For example, Starbucks recently announced that it would close 16 US stores, mostly on the West Coast, by the end of July because of safety concerns.