Introduction to the Security Industry

1. Section 1: Introduction To The Security
Industry
Section Overview
Words to Know
Who needs a security licence?
General Duties and Responsibilities
Etc.

2. Introduction to the Security Industry
Section Overview
The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA)
regulates the private Security industry. The PSISA was proclaimed into
force on August 23, 2007 to help professionalize the security
industry, increase public safety and ensure practitioners receive proper
training and are qualified to provide protective services. The PSISA and
its regulations govern the way the private security industry operates in
Ontario. The Training and Testing Regulation made under the PSISA
came into force on April 15, 2010. All security guards must fulfill the
mandatory requirements of the Training and Testing regulation in order
to be eligible to apply for a license.

3. Words to Know
access routesthe ways in and out of a building or site
clientthe owner or landlord at the place where you are working
confidentialprivate
datafacts or information
to detectto notice, to become aware of
to deterto prevent or discourage
to enforceto make sure that a rule or regulation is followed
to evacuateto empty, to get people to leave an area
evidenceanything that proves something or gives a reason for believing something
guidanceadvice or information for solving a problem or difficulty
hazarddanger
illegalagainst the law
to inspectto look at carefully
intrudersomeone who has entered an area where they are not supposed to be
procedureway of doing things
responsibilitysomething that you must do, watch over or take care of
responsiblein charge and likely to take the blame if anything goes wrong
restrictedlimited to only certain people, not for the general public
sitethe place where you are guarding

4. Who needs a security guard licence?
Individuals are required to have a security guard
licence if they perform work, for remuneration, that
consists primarily of protecting persons or property.
This includes but is not limited to
bodyguards, bouncers and loss prevention
personnel, and more generally speaking, individuals
who patrol premises.

5. General Duties & Responsibilities
Observing and reporting
Deterring and detecting crime
Keeping good public relations
Responding to emergencies
Controlling access and using alarm systems
Patrolling
Controlling traffic
Finding and reporting safety hazards

6. Essential Skills
Conflict resolution
Knowledge of telecommunications (ie.
two-way radios, cell phone, pager)
Radio and emergency telephone
procedures
Site safety and emergency procedures
Alarm response
Bomb threat detection
Theft and vandalism prevention
Report writing
Effective oral communication skills
Ability to problem solve and make
decisions
Critical thinking
Job task planning and organization
Significant use of memory
Computer skills
Continuous learning and training
Powers of arrest
Use of force principals

7. Confidentiality
Keeping secret things secret is called confidentiality. Part of your
job is to protect information, so you don’t want to be the cause of
an “information leak.” As a security guard you are placed in a
position of trust and must always act in ways that keep that trust.
Guards often carry keys and have access to areas that other
people cannot enter. Because of your duties you will see and hear
many things that you must keep secret or share only with certain
members of the company or with others in the security
department. It is very important that you do not talk about these
things with other people.

8. Standard Operating Procedures
Standard operating procedures cover company policies
and ways of doing things. These relate to all sites in the
company. These may include expectations such as
dressing neatly, being honest and treating the public
politely. They may also tell about company rules as well
as health and safety issues for the workplace.

9. Post Orders
Post orders are sometimes called standing orders. They are the procedures and rules for a specific
area or post. They may vary from area to area within the company. Each post has its own post orders.
Post orders are your most important reference. They tell in detail what is involved in your job. Here
are some things that post orders may include:
contact numbers for emergency personnel
where the post is
what hours the shifts are
how and when to do patrols
when to lock and unlock doors
how to report problems, etc.
specific instructions about what to do in an emergency such as a bomb threat, a
fire, intruders, injured employees
what to do if there is a power failure, flood, or equipment breakdown, etc.
special duties, such as deliveries, and when to perform them
rules about who you should let into your area and how you should control the
entrance

10. Post Orders continued
Be sure to carefully read all updates or changes in your post orders. Sometimes
you may see that something is missing from your post orders or that something
needs to be changed. You should report these things to your supervisor or
manager.
You will also receive memos or notices with special instructions that are not
included in your post orders. These may be for a specific event or a situation that
will only last for a short time, such as an open house.
Your post orders will also outline the way in which you are expected to do your
duties.
You may be given a fixed post where you stand or sit in one place or you may be
expected to do patrols where you check a certain area on foot or in a vehicle.

11. Security Contracts
A licensed firm sells security services on a contract
basis. The client who hires for service will issue a
contract outlining security roles and responsibilities to
be followed. The security staff works for the security
agency and not directly for the property owners.

12. Take Care of Yourself
Three very important things that can help you to learn better
are:
Get a good night’s sleep – it’s hard to learn when you’re tired.
Eat healthy foods – the healthier you are, the better
everything works…including your brain.
Exercise – even a walk around the block can help to clear
your head and prepare you for studying, or give you a break
while studying.

13. Remember, a security guards hours can be long and at
times you can expect to work up to 84hrs a week.
You work as a team, succeed as a team and fail as a
team. Communication and common sense is the key
to being successful in this industry.