Security measures protect people and property from threats and dangerous conditions. This protection extends to all parts of the premises which the patron or employee may be reasonably expected to go and to those parts of the premises that the business has reasonably led them to believe they can go. Bars have a responsibility to provide reasonable protection to patrons and employees on the premises.
There are many threats to safety that may occur at a bar. The possibility of death and injury due to fire is an important issue that has to be effectively addressed. Proper policies and procedures should be established for the safe evacuation of all the occupants on the premises. Bars will have a large amount of cash on the premises. Liquor bottles may be stolen. Employees may be assaulted during a robbery or theft of liquor. Bottles and drink glasses could be used as weapons not only during a robbery or theft; but during a fight between patrons or an assault of an employee. In some circumstances, an employee can effectively handle a disruptive patron by using verbal and nonverbal (physical actions and demeanor) skills to diffuse the situation. An effective method is asking a disruptive patron to leave the bar. If the patron refuses, advise the patron that he/she has the opportunity to leave on their own or the police will be contacted to remove them from premises. Employees should be properly trained in the policies and procedures established by the bar to address the aforementioned threats and improper behavior that may occur on the premises.
Assaultive behavior can occur between patrons. Managers, waiters, waitresses, and bartenders may be assaulted by intoxicated or combative patrons. An employee policy should be in place identifying when the police and/or management should be contacted when there are violent or disruptive patrons. If security personnel are on site, the employee policy should identify when security personnel should be contacted.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages by everyone working for the bar during their work hours should be prohibited.
Security Personnel
Bars, taverns, restaurants, and nightclubs are usually the busiest on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Most assaults occur on weekend nights. If assaultive behavior is foreseeable on the property, security personnel should be employed. Security personnel in bars are often referred to as bouncers, doormen, and floor men. The role of security personnel is to protect people and property. This responsibility includes patrons and employees.
The hiring, training and supervision of security personnel is an important aspect of providing effective security. One of the best methods of crime prevention is the obvious presence of security personnel. It is essential that security personnel be recognizable and conspicuous.
Proprietary and Contract Security
Security personnel can be proprietary or contracted. Proprietary security personnel, also known as in-house security, are employees controlled by the company that is providing security for its facilities and other property. They receive instruction and supervision from their employer. Contract security personnel are employed by an outside security firm. They provide security services to a business customer, but are managed by the contracted security firm.
Hiring of Security Personnel
Hiring of applicants should take place after a reasonable background check is conducted. This responsibility is one of the most important priorities for security management. The background check often includes requirements identified by a governmental entity. A business’s responsibility to its patrons is to provide effective security through proper hiring practices. The hiring of security applicants is a critical part of establishing and maintaining an effective security force.
Training of Security Personnel
Security personnel should be adequately trained prior to beginning, and continue to be trained once employed. If a security guard is required to be licensed by the city and/or state where he/she works, the security guard should be licensed. The importance of training cannot be overstated.
Adequately trained security personnel are essential to achieve management’s goal for employees to properly perform their duties. What management wants and how management wants it done is reflected in the training of security personnel. Without the proper response of the appropriate employees, the security measures in place are often ineffective with respect to the safety and security of the patrons and employees of a business. Security personnel should know what their responsibilities are and how to properly carry them out. By security personnel being properly trained, their actions will be in compliance to the policies and procedures of the business.
The importance of employees following proper training is essential to a proper response. Security personnel, not assigned to a stationary post, will move throughout the premises and observe patrons for reasonable behavior while they patronize a business establishment. It should be remembered that security personnel have the same rights as a private citizen. When appropriate, reasonable force should be used by security personnel. If two or more patrons are involved in a fight, they should be removed from the premises. An effective method is to eject the more aggressive patron or group of patrons first and wait until they vacate the area of the premises before ejecting the more passive patron or group of patrons.
Monitoring Performance of Security Personnel
The management of security personnel should be delegated to a knowledgeable and competent individual who understands the required safety and security responsibilities of the business. If the security personnel are contracted personnel, there remains a responsibility by the business owner or manager to monitor their performance. This responsibility can include assessment of contract employee performance, response of contractor management to the bar owner’s or manager’s concerns, and training. It is important to ensure the contractor is meeting contractual standards, but direct supervision of contract security should be carried out by the management of the contractor. When there is an issue involving contract security personnel, the bar owner or manager should communicate their concern through the management of the contractor.
The responsibility for supervising security guard performance should be executed by someone who moves throughout the premises. Security personnel should be properly hired, trained and managed. When security personnel’s actions are improper, it may be attributed to inadequate hiring, training, and/or supervision.
An effective strategy of controlling assaultive behavior is to position a security guard/security personnel at bar entrances and exits. This will control access into the building by confirming a patron is the proper age to enter and is in compliance with bar policy for entrance into the building. Additionally, the actions of patrons outside the front door and inside by the front door can be monitored. Crowding around the bar and on the dance floor creates the risk of patrons accidentally bumping into each other. This can lead to fights between patrons. These are areas of the premises which may need to be monitored if assaultive behavior is foreseeable on the property.
Bar security is important for the patrons and employees of the bar. It is essential that all workers on site are properly trained in the policies and procedures of the bar. An effective response to a threat, dangerous condition or improper behavior is required.
]]>Security Personnel
Bars, taverns, and nightclubs are usually the busiest on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Most assaults occur on weekend nights. If assaultive behavior is foreseeable on the property, security personnel should be employed. Security personnel in bars are often referred to as bouncers, doormen, and floor men. The role of security personnel is to protect people and property. This responsibility includes patrons and employees. The hiring, training and supervision of security personnel is an important aspect of providing effective security. One of the best methods of crime prevention is the obvious presence of security personnel. It is essential that security personnel be recognizable and conspicuous.
Proprietary and Contract Security
Security personnel can be proprietary or contracted. Proprietary security personnel, also known as in-house security, are employees controlled by the company that is providing security for its facilities and other property. They receive instruction and supervision from their employer. Contract security personnel are employed by an outside security firm. They provide security services to a business customer, but are managed by the contracted security firm.
Hiring of Security Personnel
Hiring of applicants should take place after a reasonable background check is conducted. This responsibility is one of the most important priorities for security management. A security applicant should be at least 18 years of age and successfully pass a pre-employment drug-screening test. A criminal record check should be conducted on an applicant, and a reasonable attempt should be made to verify past employment and references. A business’s responsibility to its patrons is to provide effective security through proper hiring practices. The hiring of security applicants is a critical part of establishing and maintaining an effective security force.
Training of Security Personnel
Security personnel should be adequately trained prior to beginning, and continue to be trained once employed. If a security guard is required to be licensed by the city and/or state where he/she works, the security guard should be licensed. The importance of training cannot be overstated. Adequately trained security personnel are essential to achieve management’s goal for employees to properly perform their duties. What management wants and how management wants it done is reflected in the training of security personnel. Without the proper response of the appropriate employees, the security measures in place are ineffective with respect to the safety and security of the patrons and employees of a business. Security personnel should know what their responsibilities are and how to properly carry them out. By security personnel being properly trained, their actions will be in compliance to the policies of the business. The importance of employees following proper training is essential to a proper response. Security personnel, not assigned to a stationary post, will move throughout the premises and observe patrons for reasonable behavior while they patronize a business establishment. It should be remembered that security personnel have the same rights as a private citizen. When appropriate, reasonable force should be used by security personnel. If two or more patrons are involved in a fight, they should be removed from the premises. An effective method is to eject the more aggressive patron or group of patrons first and wait until they vacate the premises before ejecting the more passive patron or group of patrons.
Monitoring Performance of Security Personnel
The management of security personnel should be delegated to a knowledgeable and competent individual who understands the required safety and security responsibilities of the business. If the security personnel are contracted personnel, there remains a responsibility by the business owner or manager to monitor their performance. This responsibility can include assessment of contract employee performance, response of contractor management to the bar owner’s or manager’s concerns, and training. It is important to ensure the contractor is meeting contractual standards, but direct supervision of contract security should be carried out by the management of the contractor. When there is an issue involving contract security personnel, the bar owner or manager should communicate their concern through the management of the contractor. The responsibility for supervising security guard performance should be executed by someone who moves throughout the premises. Security personnel should be properly hired, trained and managed. When security personnel’s actions are improper, it may be attributed to inadequate hiring, training, and/or supervision. An effective strategy of controlling assaultive behavior is to position a security guard/security personnel at bar entrances and exits. This will control access into the building by confirming a patron is the proper age to enter and is in compliance with bar policy for entrance into the building. Additionally, the actions of patrons outside the front door and inside by the front door can be monitored. Crowding around the bar and on the dance floor creates the risk of patrons accidentally bumping into each other. This can lead to fights between patrons. These are areas of the premises which may need to be monitored if assaultive behavior is foreseeable on the property. Bar security is important for the patrons and employees of the bar. It is essential that all workers on site are properly trained in the policies and procedures of the bar. An effective response to a threat, dangerous condition or improper behavior is required.
Originally published on Wednesday, 11 December 2011
163 views at time of republishing
In the world of bar security and bar security issues within the hospitality industry, they include:
- Chain restaurants
- Nightclubs
- Sports bars
- Casinos
- Neighborhood bars with entertainment
There are a few questions to consider regarding today’s security and what is expected of them. This is 2013 and things are different than they were even 10 years ago. The cocktails are different, illegal drugs are a big problem for bar owners, the staff expectations are different, the laws are different and fake IDs are often of better quality than the real thing.
So – what do you expect from your security personnel? Please don’t call them bouncers anymore. The job grew up and the bouncer is no longer wanted. Trained and certified security staff is the industry standard, not the football player paid in beer.
Is the role of security to escort patrons out of a bar only after an altercation has taken place? Are they responsible for identifying signs of intoxication? Should they be certified in one of the national certification programs for safe alcohol service? Should off-duty police officers be hired? Is a license required for security in your state?
For a bar owner or licensee, serving or selling alcohol to a minor is a bad decision every time. Fake IDs have come full-circle. Internet IDs are excellent and can pass through a scanning machine. Websites like Underground-review.com actually reviews fake ID websites and their products such as:
- U.S. drivers licenses
- Canadian drivers licenses
- European drivers licenses
- High school diplomas
- College diplomas
- College transcripts
That’s not even the scary part. The scary part is the equipment used to counterfeit IDs, is often better than most state agencies use to create valid drivers’ licenses. How are security staff taught to properly check IDs to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors? What is reasonable? What does a reasonable effort look like today when fake IDs are prevalent and may well be scanned through ID scanning machines costing several thousand dollars?
Does the purchase of the scanning machine constitute a reasonable effort? When a minor gets through security, is served at the bar service, and consumes alcohol, it’s a major problem for the bar, the community and certainly for the minor. An intoxicated minor who drives a vehicle and crashes said vehicle resulting in injuries costs millions of dollars. When all is said and done, lawsuits over intoxicated minors cost tens of millions of dollars.
Many bars hire off-duty police officers to stand at the door and check IDs. That’s fine, but my personal opinion is (and I’ve taught hundreds of police officers in my classes), the choice of using off duty cops is 50:50. Some take the job seriously. Others seriously do not. They want the extra cash they receive for the job and don’t really pay close attention to the IDs coming through the door, because checking IDs at a bar or nightclub is not their ‘real job.’
This article is not about teaching anyone the proper way to check IDs. This article is about the seriousness of the security person’s position in a bar. There are far more problems in the bar business today than ever. Bar owners cannot hire a brother-in-law to watch the door as a favor. The emotional toll it takes on bar owners is nightmarish. Horrible, horrible stuff. I guarantee you that the minor will point the finger at the bar 100% of the time if he gets hurt and will say one of two things:
- The bar never checked my ID.
- The bar didn’t check my ID properly.
This article is about the job of security and the seriousness with which bar owners must view them. Training not only in non-violent combat, but training in a certified program that teaches both safe alcohol service and security issues. Look for a program that includes both of those features. If you can’t find one, then have security attend both of them. It’s 2013, and it’s not going to get any easier. But it sure is a glamorous business, isn’t it? Right.
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