A woman who manages one of Europe’s largest legal brothels has shed light on a strict safety rule that she says is central to protecting workers on site.
Catherine De Noire, who oversees daily operations at the establishment, revealed what she calls the “eight-second rule”, a tightly enforced safety protocol that ensures security staff respond to any emergency situation in seconds.
How the ‘eight-second rule’ works
In a series of TikTok videos, De Noire – who works the night shift, clocking in at 7PM while pursuing a PhD in organizational psychology by day – explained that every private room in the brothel is equipped with an inconspicuous panic button, installed as part of the venue’s emergency system.
“That’s why all rooms are equipped with panic buttons,” she wrote, adding that the feature is a key part of keeping workers safe.
Each worker is trained on where the button is located and how to use it. If a client becomes aggressive, threatening, or makes them feel unsafe, they can quietly press the alarm without drawing attention.
“The panic button doesn’t make any sound in the room itself,” De Noire explained. “That’s deliberate, so the client remains unaware that an alert has been triggered.”
Once activated, the signal instantly triggers a siren in the security office, where the room number appears on a monitor so guards know exactly where to go.
Security responds swiftly
According to De Noire, this is where the “eight-second rule” comes into play. “We operate under what we call the ‘eight-second rule,’” she said. “Once the panic button is activated, security staff must reach the room within eight seconds. This isn’t just a guideline, it’s a strict protocol.”
To maintain that standard, staff regularly take part in emergency drills and scenario-based training to make sure they can move through the building quickly and effectively.
Whenever an alarm is triggered, at least two security guards are dispatched immediately. They unlock the door, assess the situation, and take steps to de-escalate it safely.
Safety is top priority
De Noire said that managers, including herself, are also alerted during emergencies to oversee the response and ensure everyone involved is safe afterward.
She emphasized that the panic button system and the rapid-response rule form a crucial part of the workplace’s broader commitment to security and professionalism.
De Noire, who also conducts research into sex work alongside her managerial role, has shared a number of behind-the-scenes insights online, from unusual client stories to the realities of running a high-volume brothel that reportedly sees between 500 and 1,000 clients per day.
While not all of the experiences she describes are sexual in nature, De Noire says safety procedures like the “eight-second rule” remain non-negotiable across the business.