Mass. Liquor JUA Rewards Training Security Staff, Not Just Servers

The Liquor Liability Joint Underwriting Association of Massachusetts (LLJUA) and a security training company are teaming up to transform security staff into trained professionals in what is believed to be the first program of its kind in the northeast.

To encourage participation, the LLJUA said it will offer a 50% reduction in the cost of general liability assault and battery coverage to clients that receive security training from Security Liability Reduction Associates (SLRA) in Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Likewise, SLRA announced that it will offer a 50% discount for all LLJUA clients that sign up for training during the first six months of the program, which begins June 1, 2006.

“In recent years, bartenders have been trained to deal with potential problems, such as excessive drinkers and underage drinkers,” said LLJUA President John Tympanick. “Given the potential liability resulting from assault and battery, it’s just as important to have professional, well-trained security personnel.”

“Half of all claims result from assault and battery,” SLRA President Brian Jacobs added. “In many cases, the claims are against employees of establishments with liquor licenses. Most assaults can be avoided with proper training. Security training more than pays for itself if it prevents even a single incident.”

Training can help when a business goes before a license review board, he added, and it can help establishments attract and retain highly qualified staff by fostering professionalism and showing that the employer cares about the safety of its staff and patrons.

SLRA’s program, called Training Our Safety Staff (TOSS), includes two four-hour sessions. TOSS teaches staff how to identify potential conflicts before they happen, how to verbally defuse them if they do happen, acceptable means of restraint and control, diversity skills and more. Scenarios are also set up simulating real-life experiences.

The cost of TOSS varies based on the number of people being trained, Jacobs said. The cost of assault and battery coverage will be reduced from 10% of liquor-liability premiums to 5% for establishments with liquor licenses if 100% of management and 75% of non-management staff receive security training from a trainer approved by LLJUA.

“Training can help prevent not only injuries, but lawsuits that might otherwise result from assaults,” Tympanick said. “Those owners that protect their patrons will also go a long way toward protecting their business.”

Source: The Liquor Liability Joint Underwriting Association of Massachusetts