California Floats Workplace Violence Law Self-Defense Carve-out

California safety regulators have proposed a self-defense exemption to the state’s workplace violence standard that would muddle the scope of employer liability for hazards, attorneys say.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health suggested removing a provision that discourages companies from asking employees to deal with anyone suspected of criminal activity, such as shoplifting. Instead, the regulation should specify employers shouldn’t retaliate against a worker engaged in a lawful act of self-defense, the agency noted in the latest draft of Cal/OSHA’s pending workplace violence rules.

The tweak marks a different approach by the state agency regarding a worker’s response ...