MPS Security & Protection Releases SB 553 Guidance for California Retailers Ahead of Black Friday

MPS Security & Protection has issued practical safety guidance for California retailers preparing for Black Friday, focused on workplace violence prevention under SB 553. The Los Angeles-based firm published the guidance on October 28, 2026, according to EIN Presswire. The guidance targets retail operations and loss-prevention managers who need stores and staff ready before the rush begins.

What the MPS Guidance Covers

The guidance addresses how holiday crowds, long lines and thin staffing can intensify safety concerns on the retail floor. Cal/OSHA guidance identifies exchanging money with customers, working alone, and working late or early shifts as conditions that raise the likelihood of workplace violence, and extended holiday hours bring all three together at once. The National Retail Federation's 2026 report on retail theft and violence found that retailers continue to face theft, violence and fraud, including rising guest-related violence and homelessness-related incidents.

California Labor Code section 6401.9, enacted through SB 553, has required covered employers since July 1, 2024, to establish, implement and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan developed with employee involvement. The plan must address the specific hazards of each work area rather than rely on a generic template, and it may stand alone or fold into an existing Injury and Illness Prevention Program. A functional plan names the individuals responsible for carrying it out and sets procedures for reporting and responding to incidents and threats, while also addressing how hazards get identified and corrected.

Covered employers must provide training when a plan is first established and annually afterward, and a surge of seasonal Black Friday hires creates a natural trigger for a refresher session. Practical training content includes recognizing threats, de-escalation techniques, reporting without fear of reprisal, and knowing when to disengage and call for backup rather than confronting an aggressive customer. MPS Security & Protection works with retail clients on risk mitigation and management strategies that treat workplace violence prevention as an ongoing practice rather than a seasonal task.

MPS Security's Operating Footprint

MPS Security & Protection is a family-owned, third-generation physical security firm founded in 1967, according to akta.pro company records. The firm is headquartered in Murrieta and provides executive protection and uniformed security services, armed and unarmed, for Fortune 500 enterprises, high-net-worth individuals and commercial facilities across Southern California, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The same records list Fortune 500 clients including Coca-Cola, GE, BP, Northrop Grumman and Neuralink, and note a high-visibility event engagement providing strike contingency planning and security for the Coca-Cola sponsored FIFA World Cup trophy tour in the Los Angeles area. The records also note a Las Vegas office (NV PPO 1801) extending licensed operations beyond California into Nevada, and a Los Angeles regional office serving the LA metro and major event clients.

Where Retailers Can Find the Guidance

The guidance is available from MPS at its SB 553 and Black Friday page. Retailers seeking guidance customized for their stores can reach out to MPS directly, the company said.