Nightclub

This city nightclub is licensed to hold just under 1000 people and opens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The club has a strong policy on dealing with drugs on the premises and has a reputation as a 'drugs-free' zone. The club employs 50 staff - 16 act as stewards, with 10 patrolling inside the club and at least 7 bar staff. A nurse is always on duty and 20 staff have been trained in first aid.

Key risks

• Threats and abuse - from customers waiting to get into the club.
• Assaults - staff may have to intervene in fights, or remove troublemakers.
• Robbery - staff have to handle large amounts of cash.
• Sexual harassment.

Reducing the risk

Training and information

• Staff are trained to enforce strict control of customers entering the club:
  • admission limited to those who are sober and not under the influence of drugs;
  • people are searched on admission, including use of a metal detector;
  • licensed opening times are strictly enforced.
• Staff are trained to be non-provocative, and to let the stewards handle difficult customers.
• Stewards are trained in customer service and how to remove or restrain with minimal force.
• Nightly briefings for stewards to exchange information on troublemakers and those banned from the premises.
• The club publicises its rules about immediate removal for fighting, causing annoyance, being drunk or found in possession of drugs.

Work environment

• A raised cash desk to keep money out of sight.
• Low lighting used to provide intimacy but allow sufficient visibility.
• Emergency back-up lighting and tamper-proof switches installed.
• Some areas of the club are kept closed until the number of customers requires more supervised space.
• Visible CCTV cameras.

Job design

• Sufficient staff are always available to serve and control the customers.
• Empty glasses are collected promptly so they cannot be used as weapons.
• Uniformed stewards are deployed in high profile at key points, and keep in contact visually and by radio.