Cal/OSHA Active Shooter and Workplace Violence Awareness Training

This course meets and exceeds the compliance requirements outlined in California Labor Code Section 6401.9 (SB 553) and Title 8 CCR Section 3220, Emergency Action Plan. It is also supplemented by U.S. Department of Homeland Security and CISA active shooter preparedness guidance.

Workplace violence is a real risk. BLS recorded 470 workplace homicides in 2024, up from 458 in 2023.

This Cal/OSHA Active Shooter and Workplace Violence Awareness Training is important as it:

• Supports the training requirements of California Labor Code 6401.9 (SB 553).
• Teaches workers to recognize warning signs before a situation escalates.
• Explains how to report threats and incidents without fear of reprisal.
• Covers the four types of workplace violence defined in California law.
• Prepares workers to respond in an active shooter event.
• Helps employers build a safer workplace and reduce legal and financial risk.

• It is written for California workplaces, not a generic national audience.
• It covers everyday workplace violence and active shooter events in one course.
• It uses plain language and short lessons that workers can follow.
• It includes scenario-based questions that test real-world decisions.
• It ends with a final exam to confirm understanding.
• It gives employers a training record to support their documentation.

It is a written plan that explains how an employer identifies, prevents, and responds to violence. It can stand alone or be part of the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).

This training is for California employees and employers covered by Labor Code Section 6401.9, including:

• All employees covered by their employer’s Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, including full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers.
• Supervisors and managers who must recognize warning signs, respond to reports, and lead employees in an emergency.
• HR, safety, and security personnel responsible for the plan, hazard assessments, the violent incident log, and incident investigations.
• Employees in public-facing or higher-risk roles, such as retail, hospitality, banking, transit, education, government offices, utilities, and late-night or cash-handling work.
• Employers that are exempt from Section 6401.9 but want employees prepared to prevent and respond to workplace violence and active shooter events.

Yes. California law protects employees who report threats or incidents.

Employers must keep violent incident logs, hazard records, and investigation records for five years. Training records must be kept for one year.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Employers must train when the plan is established, then once every year, and again when the plan changes or a new hazard is identified.

Certificate of Completion: Immediately after passing the final exam, you can download, save, or print your certificate in PDF format.

Validity: The course certificate is valid for one year.

Renewal: Simply take this course within 12 months to maintain compliance and stay current on Active Shooter and Workplace Violence Awareness best practices.