As part of USC’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for faculty, staff, students, alumni, volunteers, and visitors, the university maintains a Violence-Free Campus Workplace Policy, a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WPVPP), and annual training. California Senate Bill 553 amends the California Labor Code section 6401.9 and requires that employers establish, implement, and maintain an effective written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan.
Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
The Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WPVPP) broadly applies to all employees of the USC community, including full-time and part-time faculty, staff, post-docs, student workers, contractors, and vendors.
How to Report Workplace Violence Incidents
All USC faculty, staff, and student workers are obligated to help maintain a safe and violence-free work environment. Threats of violent behavior must be reported. USC shall maintain the confidentiality of workplace violence investigations to the extent possible. If there is an immediate threat of violence, immediately call the Department of Public Safety (24/7) at 213-740-4321 (UPC) and 323-442-1000 (HSC) or 911 if you are off campus. The Department of Public Safety maintains emergency blue light phones throughout the University Park and Health Science campuses.
If the threat of violence is not immediate but potentially could lead to a serious incident, please notify one of the following:
- Submit a report to USC through:
- USC Report and Response (https://report.usc.edu).
- Report by phone by dialing 213-740-2500 or 800-348-7454 (toll-free).
- Report in person at the closest DPS station.
- Report the incident to your supervisor.
- Report the incident to your local Human Resource Partner.
Violent Incident Log
As required by State regulation, a violent incident log must be used for every workplace violence incident. Contact EH&S at ehs@usc.edu to request access to the Violent Incident Log.
Workplace Violence Prevention Training
All employees, supervisors, and managers are required to complete annual training. The training is available
online at TrojanLearn or in person. Contact ehs@usc.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does USC have a Workplace Violence Prevention program?
The University’s goal is to enhance the safety of all USC campuses, facilities, activities, and events and maintain an environment free from violence and threats. Additionally, California Labor Code section 6401.9 requires that employers establish, implement, and maintain an effective written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan and training.
Why do I need to take Workplace Violence Prevention training?
Cal/OSHA Workplace Violence FAQ covers many topics in detail. Specifically, Labor Code section 6401.9 (LC 6401.9) (e). Training. outlines the requirement for all employers to provide effective training for their staff. Additionally, the Cal/OSHA Fact Sheet for employers requires that employers provide:
- Effective training and ensure that training materials are easy to understand.
- Employees with an initial training and annually thereafter.
What happens if I don’t take the training?
USC provides 30 days from course assignment to complete the initial training. The course will be assigned in TrojanLearn on July 1, 2024. Refusal to take USC required trainings may result in disciplinary action per USC’s Training Requirements and Opportunities Policy. “Failure to complete mandated training by a required deadline, for faculty, may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, in accordance with the Faculty Handbook. For staff, failure may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, in accordance with staff employment policies, or removal of job responsibilities, denial of system access, and/or loss of privileges.”