Build a workplace violence prevention program you can prove
Silent Beacon gives your people a one-press wearable panic button. It gives safety, risk and compliance leaders the record behind every alert: who pressed, where they were, who responded and how it ended.
- Alert triggered by one press. GPS location shared.
- 911 connected with two-way audio.
- Team notified: Night Shift and Admins groups.
- Live GPS updated as the employee moved.
- Resolved: Emergency resolved, note added.
- Saved to alert history for review and reporting.
What is a workplace violence prevention program?
A workplace violence prevention program is an employer's written plan for preventing violence and responding to it when it happens. OSHA guidance and state laws such as California's SB 553 describe the same core parts.
Written policy
A clear statement that violence won’t be tolerated, who owns the program, and how employees report concerns.
Hazard assessment
Find where and when employees face risk: working alone, at night, handling cash or meeting the public.
A way to call for help
A fast, discreet way for any employee to get help, and clear steps for who responds.
Training
Teach employees the risks, the plan and how to use the tools, and practice with drills.
Incident records
Log every incident and how it was handled, and keep the records the law requires.
Review and improve
Look at incidents and near misses regularly, and update the plan based on what you learn.
Panic button and workplace violence laws keep arriving
States are moving from recommending emergency response tools to requiring them, with training and recordkeeping attached.
California SB 553
Most employers must keep a written workplace violence prevention plan and a violent incident log.
NY Retail Worker Safety Act
Prevention policy, training and risk assessments for retailers with 10+ employees.
Washington HB 1524
Panic buttons for isolated workers in hotels, retail, security and janitorial, plus training and records.
Georgia Alyssa's Law
911-integrated mobile panic alerts in every public school.
NY hospital security law
Emergency department security requirements take effect.
NY silent response buttons
Required for retailers with 500+ employees statewide.
Illinois Alyssa's Law
Framework for mobile panic alerts, coordinated with local 911.
NY violence prevention programs
Hospitals and nursing homes must have a program in place.
Summaries come from Silent Beacon’s law guides and are not legal advice. Requirements vary by state and employer, so review them with your legal and compliance team.
What the laws ask for, and how Silent Beacon helps you meet it
| Program requirement | Where it shows up | How Silent Beacon helps |
|---|---|---|
| Written policy and response procedures | NY retail law, SB 553, hospital programs, OSHA guidance | ✓Alert groups by site, shift and role put your response procedure into practice, and the Mass Alert Portal reaches everyone by SMS, email and voice. |
| A way for employees to call for help | WA HB 1524, NY Retail Worker Safety Act, Alyssa's Law, SB 553 | ✓Silent Beacon 2.0 is a wearable button that reaches 911, shares GPS location and alerts your team with one press, wherever the employee works. |
| Training and drills | SB 553 (annual), WA HB 1524, NY retail law, Alyssa's Law | ✓Quick start videos, step-by-step guides and Test Mode let teams run practice alerts, and drills are marked "just testing" in the record. |
| Incident records and logs | SB 553 violent incident log, WA HB 1524 recordkeeping | ✓Every alert keeps its timeline: trigger, location, who was notified and the outcome, with the employee's own note, kept in alert history. |
| Hazard assessment and plan review | SB 553, NY hospital law (annual), NY retail law | ✓Alert history shows where and when alerts happen, so reviews start from your own data instead of guesswork. |
| Coordination with 911 and first responders | Alyssa's Law (GA, IL) | ✓Direct 911 calling with two-way audio and live location keeps responders working from the same facts. |
Every alert leaves a complete record
When an incident review, insurer or inspector asks what happened, the answer is already written down.
One Dashboard for the whole program
See your people, your alerts and your communications in one place, and show leadership the program is working.
Live map
See active and resolved alerts across every site and region, with who pressed and where.
Maria L.Night ShiftPaired · 92%Jordan O.AdminsPaired · 78%
Alex C.Field TeamNot paired
Riya K.Night ShiftPaired · 64%Users and devices
Every employee, their group and the status of their paired Silent Beacon in one list.
Severe weather warning. Move away from windows and shelter in place until you receive an all clear.
Mass alerts with history Add-on
Send lockdown, weather and all-clear messages by SMS, email and voice, and keep a record of every message.
Your safety data is handled to an audited standard
Workplace violence prevention program questions
What is the purpose of a workplace violence prevention program?
It sets out how an employer prevents violence and responds when it happens: the policy, the risks, how employees get help, training, and how incidents are recorded and reviewed. A good program protects employees and shows regulators and insurers that the risks are managed.
What are some examples of workplace violence prevention measures?
Common measures include a written policy, risk assessments for people who work alone or at night, panic buttons or other ways to call for help, response procedures, regular training and drills, and an incident log that is reviewed for patterns.
What is SB 553 in California?
SB 553 (Labor Code section 6401.9) requires most California employers to have a written workplace violence prevention plan, keep a violent incident log, train employees every year, and keep related records. It has been enforced by Cal/OSHA since July 1, 2024.
Who is not covered under SB 553?
The main exceptions include health care facilities covered by Cal/OSHA's separate health care standard, law enforcement agencies, employees working remotely from a place the employer doesn't control, and sites with fewer than 10 employees present that aren't open to the public. Check Cal/OSHA's guidance for the full rules.
How does Silent Beacon help with compliance?
It gives employees a one-press way to get help, routes alerts to the right responders, makes drills easy with Test Mode, and records every alert's time, location, responders and outcome in alert history, which supports your incident log and plan reviews.
Is Silent Beacon a substitute for legal advice?
No. Silent Beacon supports your program with tools and records. Requirements vary by state and employer, so review them with your legal and compliance team.
Get a compliance walkthrough
We'll map your state's requirements to a rollout plan for devices, training and records, then send pricing for your team.