Pennsylvania House Bill HB1810

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/19/25
• Refer: 8/19/25

Caption

Providing for workplace violence prevention and emergency preparedness standards for retail employers and employees; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

Summary

HB1810, titled the Retail Worker Safety and Preparedness Act, would require retail employers with 15 or more employees at a physical commercial location to adopt and maintain a written workplace violence prevention plan. The plan must identify location-specific risks, set procedures for responding to incidents, designate a responsible supervisor or manager, and post emergency contact and evacuation information in employee-accessible areas. Employers must review and update the plan annually and provide it to employees upon request. The bill also requires annual employee training on recognizing workplace violence, de-escalation, and reporting procedures, with training and materials provided in a language understood by each employee when needed. For larger retail locations with 40 or more on-site employees, the bill requires panic buttons or similar emergency communication devices at key frontline stations such as checkout counters and customer service desks, with an exception for retail space inside larger facilities where a master operator controls the overall security and emergency response plan.

Impact

HB1810 would create new workplace safety compliance obligations for qualifying retail employers in Pennsylvania and give the Department of Labor and Industry authority to administer, inspect, and enforce those requirements. It would also authorize the department to issue guidance materials, require corrective action, and impose civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation for repeat violations within 24 months, while emphasizing education and technical assistance during the first year after the effective date. The bill would require the department to promulgate implementing regulations within 180 days, and it would take effect one year after enactment.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears to be supportive of stronger retail worker protections and emergency preparedness. The bill is framed as a safety measure aimed at preventing and responding to workplace violence, with a phased enforcement approach that suggests an effort to balance compliance with employer adjustment. No recorded opposition, amendments, or vote outcomes are included in the available context.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are likely to be the compliance burden on retail employers, especially smaller businesses near the 15-employee threshold, and the cost and operational impact of required training, planning, and panic-button installation. Another likely issue is the scope of the emergency device mandate for locations with 40 or more on-site employees, including how it applies to stores within larger facilities and whether the master-operator exception is sufficiently clear. Language-access requirements and the department’s inspection and penalty authority may also draw concern from employers seeking flexibility or lower administrative costs.