RBSE Sec Voc Security cheat sheet
RBSE Sec Voc Security · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Security Concepts
Security triad: confidentiality (information not disclosed), integrity (not altered), availability (accessible when needed).
Risk = threat x vulnerability x impact; controls act on vulnerability (reduce exposure) or impact (mitigate consequence).
Threat vs hazard: threat is intentional (person/group); hazard is incidental (fire, flood, structural failure).
Layered defence (defence in depth): perimeter, building envelope, internal zones, asset level - an intruder must defeat each layer.
Deterrence, detection, delay, response (PDDR): a control is only effective if a response follows detection within the delay time.
Insider threat indicators: unexplained access outside normal hours, unusual data copying, grievance or coercion signals - report, do not investigate alone.
Security vs safety: security addresses deliberate acts; safety addresses unintentional harm; both share risk-assessment method.
Principle of least privilege and need-to-know limit access to information and areas to what the role requires.
Duties and Professional Ethics of a Security Guard
Core duties: observe, deter, report, record, assist - a private guard is not a police officer and has no police powers.
Use of force must be lawful, necessary, proportional and only to prevent imminent harm; it must stop once the threat ends.
Ethics tests: legality, proportionality, necessity, non-discrimination, accountability - apply all five before acting.
Integrity rules: refuse gifts or bribes, never accept payment to allow access, declare conflicts of interest.
Confidentiality: do not disclose client information, incident details or personal data to outsiders or media.
Appearance and conduct: correct uniform, visible ID, sobriety, punctuality, courteous and neutral language.
Whistleblowing duty: report colleagues' misconduct through the chain of command, not to peers or social media.
Negligence exposure: failing to follow post orders, leaving a post unattended, or ignoring alarms can create civil and criminal liability.
Physical Security: Access Control, Perimeter, Patrolling and Guarding
Access control rule: identify, verify, authorise, record - every entry must pass all four steps.
Three authentication factors: something you know (PIN), something you have (card/token), something you are (biometric); two factors = stronger.
Tailgating and piggybacking: one person per authentication; challenge politely and log the event.
Perimeter layers: fence/barrier, lighting, intrusion detection, CCTV, guard response; each layer must be monitored to be effective.
Patrol types: fixed post, foot patrol, vehicle patrol, random vs scheduled; random timing defeats pattern observation by intruders.
Patrol method: check doors, windows, seals, fire exits, lighting, obstructions, unusual smells/sounds; record time and location of each check.
CCTV ethics: cameras must not cover private areas; footage is personal data, retained only as long as necessary and access-controlled.
Key and card control: issue, log, recover, and deactivate on staff exit; unaccounted keys are a reportable security gap.
Fire Safety and Firefighting: Causes, Classes, Extinguishers and Evacuation
Fire tetrahedron: fuel, oxygen, heat, chemical chain reaction - remove any one to extinguish.
Classes: A solid combustibles, B flammable liquids, C flammable gases, D metals, F cooking oils/fats; electrical fires are treated as E in some systems.
Extinguisher matching: water (A only, never on live electrical or oil), foam (A/B), CO2 (B/electrical, no cooling residue), dry powder (ABC, residue damage), wet chemical (F).
PASS technique: Pull pin, Aim at base of fire, Squeeze handle, Sweep side to side.
Evacuation priority: alarm, alert others, evacuate by nearest safe route, assemble at muster point, roll call, never re-enter.
Fire doors must be self-closing and kept unobstructed; wedging fire doors open is a serious breach.
Smoke kills more than flames: stay low, cover nose/mouth, test doors for heat before opening.
Report fire hazards: blocked exits, faulty alarms, overloaded sockets, stored flammables near heat sources.
First Aid and Basic Life Support
DRSABCD: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation.
CPR adult: centre of chest, depth 5-6 cm, rate 100-120 compressions/min, ratio 30:2 with rescue breaths if trained.
AED use: attach pads, follow voice prompts, do not touch the casualty during analysis or shock, resume CPR immediately after.
Recovery position for an unconscious but breathing casualty; monitor breathing until help arrives.
Choking adult: encourage coughing, then 5 back blows, then 5 abdominal thrusts, alternating until cleared.
Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a dressing, elevate if possible, do not remove soaked dressings - add more on top.
Burns: cool with running water for at least 20 minutes, remove jewellery, do not burst blisters or apply creams.
Consent and record: obtain consent if conscious, act in good faith if not, and document time, observations and actions taken.
Industrial Safety, Occupational Health and Personal Protective Equipment
Hierarchy of controls: eliminate, substitute, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE last - PPE protects only the wearer.
PPE selection by hazard: helmet (head impact), goggles/face shield (flying particles, chemicals), gloves (cut/chemical), ear defenders (noise), respirator (dust/vapour), safety footwear (crush/slip).
PPE rules: inspect before use, correct fit, replace damaged items, never modify or remove guards on machinery.
Noise action levels: hearing protection required above 85 dB(A) average over 8 hours; risk assessment from 80 dB(A).
Safety signs: red = prohibition/fire equipment, yellow = warning, blue = mandatory action, green = safe condition/escape route.
Hazardous substances: read the SDS (safety data sheet), use in ventilated areas, store separately from incompatible chemicals.
Manual handling: assess load, keep close to body, bend knees not back, do not twist while lifting, use mechanical aids.
Incident reporting: record near-misses as well as injuries - near-misses are free warnings of system failure.
Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Disaster cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery - preparedness reduces response time and losses.
Emergency plan elements: risk assessment, roles, alarm and communication, evacuation routes, muster points, resources, drills.
Incident command principle: one person in charge, clear span of control, no freelancing; guards report to the incident controller.
Drill frequency and record-keeping: conduct regular drills, time the evacuation, record lessons learned and correct gaps.
Bomb threat protocol: stay calm, note exact words, background sounds, caller's voice, time; do not use radios near a suspected device.
Earthquake response: drop, cover, hold on; after shaking, evacuate using stairs, expect aftershocks.
Flood/storm: move to higher floors, avoid basements, isolate power if safe, keep away from windows and downed lines.
Business continuity: identify critical functions, backups, alternate sites and contact lists before an event occurs.
Communication, Reporting, Documentation and Use of Security Equipment
Radio protocol: identify yourself, state location, state situation, request action; keep transmissions short and use plain language.
Incident report content: date, time, location, persons involved, what happened, action taken, witnesses, signature - factual, no opinion.
Report writing rule: write in chronological order, use objective language, distinguish observation from inference.
Log book and occurrence book: record every patrol, visitor, key issue and alarm in real time, not from memory later.
CCTV operation: monitor, record, preserve footage on incident, maintain chain of custody for evidence.
Alarm response: verify the alarm, investigate safely, do not enter alone if risk is high, escalate to police/emergency services.
Evidence handling: do not move items unless necessary, secure the scene, record who handled what and when.
Data protection: personal data in logs and CCTV is confidential; share on need-to-know and legal basis only.
Legal Framework, Human Rights and Behavioural Skills
Private security powers are those of an ordinary citizen: no arrest powers beyond citizen's arrest for a witnessed offence, no search without consent or legal authority.
Citizen's arrest must be based on a witnessed offence, use minimum force, and hand the person to police promptly.
Arrest vs detention: detention without lawful authority can be false imprisonment; always record the legal basis.
Human rights: right to life, liberty, dignity, privacy, freedom from torture and discrimination - apply to suspects and staff alike.
Use of force must be necessary, proportional and documented; restraint must never risk positional asphyxia.
Search rules: same-sex search where practicable, respect dignity, no strip searches by private guards.
Conflict de-escalation: calm tone, open posture, distance, active listening, offer choices, call for support.
Discrimination and harassment: refuse to act on racial, religious, gender or disability bias; report breaches.
Employability Skills and Entrepreneurship in the Security Sector
Employability skills: communication, teamwork, problem solving, time management, digital literacy, customer service, integrity.
CV and interview: tailor to the role, list licences and training, use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioural answers.
Licensing and compliance: security work usually requires a valid licence, background check and training certificate; keep them current.
Career path: guard, supervisor, control room operator, investigator, operations manager, consultant - each needs specific training.
Entrepreneurship basics: market need, business plan, pricing, cash flow, legal registration, insurance, tax and licensing.
Business risk: contracts, liability insurance, staff vetting, client confidentiality agreements and service-level agreements.
Customer service: greet, listen, explain rules politely, escalate without confrontation; complaints are recorded and resolved.
Continuous learning: first aid refresher, fire drill participation, new technology (access control, CCTV analytics) and report writing practice.
Security Concepts
Risk assessment steps: identify assets, identify threats, assess vulnerability, calculate risk, select controls, review.
Vulnerability is a weakness that a threat can exploit; a threat without vulnerability produces no risk.
Detection must trigger a response within the delay time; otherwise the layered defence fails.
Insider threat: controls include segregation of duties, audit trails, rotation of duties and access review.
Security culture: staff awareness and reporting are controls as important as fences and cameras.
Confidentiality, integrity and availability apply to physical assets and information alike.
Deterrence works only if the intruder perceives detection and response as credible.
Review controls after every incident or near-miss and update the risk register.
Duties and Professional Ethics of a Security Guard
Observe, deter, report, record, assist - never exceed lawful authority.
Use of force: lawful, necessary, proportional, documented; stop when threat ends.
Refuse gifts, bribes and undeclared conflicts of interest.
Keep client information confidential; no disclosure to media or outsiders.
Follow post orders and report deviations immediately.
Correct uniform, visible ID, sober and punctual at all times.
Report colleagues' misconduct through the chain of command.
Negligence: unattended posts and ignored alarms create liability.
Physical Security: Access Control, Perimeter, Patrolling and Guarding
Access control: identify, verify, authorise, record.
Two-factor authentication combines know/have/are factors.
Challenge tailgating; one person per authentication.
Perimeter layers: fence, lighting, detection, CCTV, guard response.
Random patrol timing defeats pattern observation.
Record time and location of every patrol check.
CCTV must not cover private areas; footage is personal data.
Log, issue, recover and deactivate keys and cards.
Fire Safety and Firefighting: Causes, Classes, Extinguishers and Evacuation
Fire tetrahedron: fuel, oxygen, heat, chain reaction.
Classes: A solids, B liquids, C gases, D metals, F cooking oils.
Water: class A only; never on live electrical or oil fires.
CO2: class B and electrical; leaves no residue.
PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep at base of fire.
Evacuate to muster point, roll call, never re-enter.
Keep fire doors closed and unobstructed.
Stay low under smoke; test doors for heat.
First Aid and Basic Life Support
DRSABCD: Danger, Response, Send, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation.
CPR: 5-6 cm depth, 100-120/min, 30:2 ratio.
AED: follow prompts, do not touch during shock, resume CPR after.
Recovery position for unconscious but breathing casualty.
Choking: 5 back blows then 5 abdominal thrusts.
Severe bleeding: direct pressure, add dressings, do not remove soaked ones.
Burns: cool 20 minutes with running water, no creams.
Document consent, observations and actions.
Industrial Safety, Occupational Health and Personal Protective Equipment
Hierarchy: eliminate, substitute, engineering, administrative, PPE last.
PPE by hazard: helmet, eye, glove, hearing, respiratory, footwear.
Hearing protection required above 85 dB(A) 8-hour average.
Signs: red prohibition/fire, yellow warning, blue mandatory, green safe.
Read SDS before using hazardous substances.
Manual handling: load close, bend knees, no twisting.
Report near-misses as well as injuries.
Never remove machine guards or modify PPE.
Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery.
Plan: roles, alarm, routes, muster points, resources, drills.
One incident controller; no freelancing.
Drills timed and reviewed; gaps corrected.
Bomb threat: note words, sounds, voice, time; no radios near device.
Earthquake: drop, cover, hold on; evacuate by stairs.
Flood: higher floors, avoid basements, isolate power if safe.
Continuity: critical functions, backups, alternate sites.
Communication, Reporting, Documentation and Use of Security Equipment
Radio: identify, location, situation, request; short plain language.
Report: date, time, place, persons, events, action, witnesses, signature.
Write chronologically; separate observation from inference.
Log patrols, visitors, keys and alarms in real time.
Preserve CCTV footage and chain of custody on incident.
Verify alarms; do not enter alone if risk is high.
Secure the scene; record who handled evidence.
Personal data: need-to-know and legal basis only.
Legal Framework, Human Rights and Behavioural Skills
Private guards have citizen powers only; no police authority.
Citizen's arrest: witnessed offence, minimum force, hand to police promptly.
Unlawful detention can be false imprisonment; record legal basis.
Rights: life, liberty, dignity, privacy, freedom from discrimination.
Force must be necessary, proportional and documented.
Searches: same sex where practicable, respect dignity.
De-escalate: calm tone, distance, listening, offer choices.
No bias based on race, religion, gender or disability.
Employability Skills and Entrepreneurship in the Security Sector
Skills: communication, teamwork, problem solving, time management, digital literacy.
STAR method for interview answers: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Keep licence, background check and training current.
Career path: guard, supervisor, control room, investigator, manager.
Business plan: market, pricing, cash flow, registration, insurance, tax.
Manage contracts, liability insurance, vetting and confidentiality.
Customer service: greet, listen, explain, escalate politely.
Continuous learning: first aid refresher, drills, new technology.