A generic template fails because SB 553 asks for your worksite, not a sample worksite. The law wants hazards and roles for this address, with proof your employees helped build it. Cal/OSHA does not grade writing. It checks whether the 11 required elements describe your operations and whether your team can explain them.
If you run an on site crew in Fresno, Bakersfield or Stockton, a four page download from 2024 will not survive an interview, even if it looks complete. Here is what inspectors ask for and how 23 answers turn into 21 sections plus 4 appendices.
The 11 elements in §6401.9(c)(2)
Every WVPP must cover these. Use the table as a walk through checklist. If you cannot point to a paragraph for each row and name who owns it, you have a gap before anyone knocks.
| # | Element | What inspectors look for |
|---|---|---|
| (A) | Persons responsible | Names or job titles of who implements the plan |
| (B) | Employee active involvement | How employees participated, not just a signature page |
| (C) | Coordination with other employers | How you share hazards with staffing agencies or tenants |
| (D) | Reporting and anti-retaliation | How employees report violence and how you prohibit retaliation |
| (E) | Compliance procedures | How you ensure employees follow the plan |
| (F) | Communication | How you communicate hazards, corrections and help |
| (G) | Hazard assessment | How and when you identify hazards per worksite |
| (H) | Hazard correction | How you fix hazards on a timeline with verification |
| (I) | Post-incident response | Investigation, victim support and review |
| (J) | Plan review | Annual review and review after any incident or deficiency |
| (K) | Training | Initial and annual interactive training with Q and A |
The wizard collects facts per worksite, entrances, cash handling, isolated shifts, public contact, so each element answers with your operations. That specificity is what survives an interview. You can explain the plan without reading a binder because it describes the building you are standing in.
The check most PDFs miss: employee participation
Section (B) is why good looking PDFs still get cited. Inspectors talk to employees.
Were you asked to help identify hazards? Do you know how to report? Have you seen the plan?
A template signed only by a manager answers no to all three. That is an automatic citation. Your document can be complete and still fail.
If your current plan has no dated record of input, you are not covered on (B). See Why Your SB 553 PDF Will Fail a Cal/OSHA Audit for the interview script.
How 23 answers become 21 sections plus 4 appendices
Twenty three structured answers, not a hundred open ended questions. Each maps to the 21 sections inspectors expect to request.
| Wizard phase | Answers | What it builds |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Worksite and roles | 1 to 5 | Cover page, responsible persons (A), employer coordination (C) |
| 2. Participation proof | 6 to 7 | Employee involvement log for (B), pushed to staff phones |
| 3. Hazards per location | 8 to 15 | Assessment and correction (G, H), including Type 1 to 4 profile |
| 4. Procedures and reporting | 16 to 20 | Reporting, anti-retaliation, communication, compliance (D, E, F) |
| 5. Response and review | 21 to 23 | Post incident, training, annual review (I, J, K) |
| Appendices (4) | A: Hazard record, B: Correction log, C: Training roster, D: Log reference |
You get a table of contents that mirrors the request sequence. Nothing is invented. If you do not handle cash, Section 9 does not claim you do.
DOCX or PDF, not a ZIP
Subilu exports three separate files on demand. No bundled ZIP that mixes names with the plan.
- DOCX: editable for counsel or leadership review. Headers match the 11 elements.
- PDF: locked and paginated, ready to hand to Cal/OSHA or post for employees.
- Logs separate: incident log and training roster export as CSV or PDF on their own. See Violent Incident Log: 7 Required Fields.
Packing, warehouse and clinic teams across the Central Valley use the same 21 section structure. Content changes per worksite. Structure does not. Inspectors recognize that consistency.
Not legal advice. Source: Labor Code §6401.9(c) and DIR WVPP guidance.