SIA Venue Safety Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A venue has a capacity of 400 people. The door clicker shows 395 inside. A group of 10 arrives. What should the door supervisor do?
- Allow the group in as 5 people over capacity is within an acceptable tolerance
- Explain that only 5 can enter now and operate a 'one in, one out' policy for the remaining 5 (Correct answer)
- Refuse the entire group as splitting them up could cause a confrontation
- Allow all 10 in but radio the floor team to ask 5 people to leave
Correct answer: Explain that only 5 can enter now and operate a 'one in, one out' policy for the remaining 5
The maximum capacity must never be exceeded. The door supervisor should explain the situation politely, admit up to 5 from the group to reach capacity, and operate a 'one in, one out' policy for the remaining members as other patrons leave. This maintains safety while still offering a reasonable solution to the group.
Question 2: What are the key signs of a potential crowd crush situation that a door supervisor should watch for?
- People dancing energetically and jumping up and down
- People being visibly compressed, unable to move their arms, and wave-like swaying movements in the crowd (Correct answer)
- Loud cheering and surging towards the stage during a performance
- People forming orderly queues at the bar
Correct answer: People being visibly compressed, unable to move their arms, and wave-like swaying movements in the crowd
Warning signs of crowd crush include: visible compression of bodies, people unable to move their arms freely, involuntary wave-like swaying (where groups of people move as a unit), people being lifted off their feet, screaming or distress calls, and people struggling to breathe. Door supervisors must act immediately to reduce density when these signs appear.
Question 3: When ejecting an intoxicated patron from a venue, what is the door supervisor's duty of care?
- The duty of care ends once the patron is outside the venue's premises
- Ensure the patron is not left in a vulnerable state — consider calling a taxi, contacting their friends, or calling an ambulance if necessary (Correct answer)
- Simply escort the patron to the pavement and return to the door immediately
- Take the patron to the nearest police station for their own safety
Correct answer: Ensure the patron is not left in a vulnerable state — consider calling a taxi, contacting their friends, or calling an ambulance if necessary
Door supervisors have a duty of care that extends beyond simply removing someone from the venue. An intoxicated person left alone on the street is vulnerable to injury, crime, or exposure. Best practice includes helping them contact friends or family, calling a taxi, or calling emergency services if they are severely intoxicated. Abandoning a vulnerable person could result in negligence claims.
Question 4: What is the recommended method for counting patrons in and out of a venue to maintain an accurate capacity count?
- Estimate the crowd size visually every 30 minutes
- Use mechanical or electronic clickers at every entry and exit point, reconciled regularly (Correct answer)
- Count the number of drinks sold and divide by the average number of drinks per patron
- Rely on CCTV footage to count people retrospectively at the end of the night
Correct answer: Use mechanical or electronic clickers at every entry and exit point, reconciled regularly
Accurate capacity management requires mechanical or electronic clickers (tally counters) at every entry and exit point. These should click up for entries and down for exits, with regular reconciliation between door staff. Some venues use electronic systems that scan tickets or wristbands. Visual estimation is unreliable and retrospective counting is useless for real-time safety.
Question 5: A patron has suffered a serious cut from a broken glass on the dance floor. After providing first aid, what additional actions should the door supervisor take?
- Clean up the broken glass and resume normal duties immediately
- Secure the area, ensure all glass fragments are cleared by appropriate staff, complete an incident report, and photograph the injury if the patron consents (Correct answer)
- Tell the patron to visit A&E and make a note in the daily log at the end of the shift
- Move the patron outside the venue to prevent blood contamination of the dance floor
Correct answer: Secure the area, ensure all glass fragments are cleared by appropriate staff, complete an incident report, and photograph the injury if the patron consents
After first aid is administered, the area should be secured to prevent further injuries. All glass fragments must be thoroughly cleared, ideally by designated staff with appropriate equipment. A full incident report should be completed including time, location, nature of injury, first aid given, and witness details. Photographing the injury (with consent) and the scene provides evidence. The patron should be advised to seek medical attention.
Question 6: Which radio communication protocol should door supervisors use when reporting an incident over the radio?
- Shout the information as quickly as possible to ensure rapid response
- Use plain language, state your location, the nature of the incident, and what assistance is needed, using a calm and clear voice (Correct answer)
- Use complex code words that only the security team understands to prevent patron eavesdropping
- Send a text message to the team WhatsApp group instead of using the radio
Correct answer: Use plain language, state your location, the nature of the incident, and what assistance is needed, using a calm and clear voice
Radio communications should be clear, calm, and structured. The message should include: who you are, your location, the nature of the incident, and what assistance you need. Plain language is preferred over codes as it reduces confusion, especially when team members from different companies are working together. A calm voice conveys professionalism and avoids causing panic.
SIA Venue Safety Management 2
A venue has a capacity of 400 people.
The door clicker shows 395 inside.
A group of 10 arrives.
What should the door supervisor do?