WBBSE Madhyamik Vocational Security cheat sheet

Private security in India is regulated mainly by the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 (PSARA); states administer licensing through a Controlling Authority.

PSARA applies to agencies and guards; a security agency must hold a valid licence, and guards must be trained and verified before deployment.

Three tiers of guarding: unarmed guard (basic), armed guard (only where legally permitted, e.g., specified cash/bank duties), and supervisor/head guard.

Core duties of a guard: access control, patrolling, observation and reporting, emergency first response, and protecting life and property within lawful limits.

A private security guard has no police powers: no arrest beyond citizen's arrest under BNSS/CrPC provisions, no search without consent or lawful authority, no use of force except lawful self-defence.

Guard's authority derives from the occupier's/owner's property rights delegated through the agency contract, not from the state.

Chain of command: guard → shift supervisor → site in-charge → agency operations manager → client security officer.

Key registers maintained at post: visitor register, material in/out register, key register, occurrence/incident book, and duty handover book.

Handover/takeover procedure: verify relief, check registers, walk the post, count keys and equipment, sign the handover entry with time and both names.

Two-person rule applies to high-value areas (cash room, strong room, armoury): no single person enters or handles keys alone.

Escorting visitors: guard walks on the outer side and slightly behind; the visitor never walks behind the guard in an unobserved area.

Suspicious object procedure: do not touch, isolate the area, note description and time, inform control room and police; never use radio close to a suspected device.

Key control: keys are signed out and in against the key register; duplicates are held in a sealed, signed envelope by the site in-charge.

Incident procedure order: observe → protect/isolate → inform supervisor → record in occurrence book → preserve evidence for police.

Vehicle procedure: check driver, registration, purpose, and load against documents; inspect cargo area in the driver's presence; log entry and exit times.

Emergency alarm response: confirm location, proceed by the designated route, do not enter alone, report to control before acting.

Three checks of access control: identify the person, verify authorisation, record the movement.

Categories at a gate: employee (ID card), authorised visitor (pass), contractor (work permit + ID), vendor/delivery (invoice/challan), unauthorised (deny and report).

Visitor pass must show name, organisation, purpose, host name, date, time-in, time-out, and issuing guard's signature.

Tailgating prevention: one person per swipe, guard observes the reader, and turnstiles/airlocks are used at sensitive entry points.

Escorted vs unescorted access: unescorted access is granted only to persons with written authorisation and photo ID on record.

Visitor badges are collected on exit; a missing badge is logged as an incident and reported to the security supervisor.

Material gate pass: two signatures (issuing department and approving authority) plus guard's verification of quantity against the pass.

Denial of entry is done politely and factually: state the reason, offer to call the host, and record the refusal.

Layers of physical security: perimeter (fence, wall, gate) → building envelope (doors, windows, roof) → internal zones → high-security vault/strong room.

Defence in depth assumes every single layer can fail; each layer must delay, detect, or deter independently.

Barrier types: natural (rivers, slopes), structural (walls, bollards, grilles), human (guards, reception), and electronic (CCTV, alarms, access readers).

Door hardware: minimum two locks on a strong room door, one of them a combination or dual-control lock; hinges protected against pin removal.

CCTV principles: coverage of entry/exit, cash handling, and perimeter; retention period as per client policy; camera time must be synchronised with the incident log.

Lighting standard: perimeter lighting should eliminate dark zones and be checked during night rounds, not assumed to work.

Key and combination custody: combination changed on change of personnel; knowledge limited to the minimum number of persons.

Alarm systems need a response plan - an alarm with no responder is only an indicator, not a control.

Patrol types: fixed post, foot patrol, vehicle patrol, and electronic (CCTV) surveillance; mixed patrol is harder to predict than a fixed route.

Randomise route and timing within the beat so that a pattern is not established; still cover every check point each round.

Clocking devices (mechanical key stations, RFID checkpoints) prove the guard visited the point at the recorded time.

Observation discipline: note what, where, when, who, and how many - not opinions or guesses.

Night patrol: use a torch with a red/ dim setting where permitted, walk on the quieter side, and keep radio earpiece in use.

Do not confront intruders alone; observe from cover, report direction of movement and description, and wait for support.

Surveillance on CCTV must stay within lawful scope: no viewing of private areas, no recording of personal activity unrelated to security.

Patrol log entries record time, point checked, condition found, and any action taken; blank or pre-filled logs are a security failure.

Fire triangle: fuel + oxygen + heat; extinguishing removes at least one side. Fire tetrahedron adds the chemical chain reaction.

Fire classes: A solid combustibles (water/foam), B flammable liquids (foam, CO2, dry powder), C gases (dry powder, shut off supply), D metals (special dry powder), E electrical (CO2, dry powder - never water).

PASS technique for extinguishers: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Stages of fire: incipient, growth, fully developed, decay; a guard can safely attack only the incipient stage with a correct extinguisher.

Evacuation priorities: alarm, evacuate occupants, call fire brigade, then attempt limited firefighting only if trained and safe.

Never use lifts during a fire evacuation; use staircases and the designated assembly point, then head-count against the visitor/employee register.

Fire prevention checks: no blocked exits or fire doors propped open, no storage under staircases, extinguishers in date and accessible.

Smoke is the main killer: stay low, cover nose and mouth with a damp cloth, and feel doors before opening.

Emergency response sequence: assess the scene for safety → alert/call for help → provide first aid within training → preserve the scene → report and record.

Indian emergency numbers: 112 (national emergency), 100 (police), 101 (fire), 108 (ambulance).

DRABC primary assessment: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation - check and act in that order.

CPR for an adult: compressions at the centre of the chest, about 5–6 cm deep, 100–120 per minute, 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths if trained.

Recovery position is for an unconscious but breathing casualty: keeps the airway open and prevents choking on vomit.

Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a clean dressing, elevate if possible, and do not remove a soaked dressing - add another on top.

Burns: cool with clean running water for about 20 minutes, remove jewellery, do not burst blisters, do not apply oil or toothpaste.

Do not move a suspected spinal-injury casualty unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic), and record everything you did.

Hierarchy of controls: eliminate → substitute → engineering controls → administrative controls → PPE; PPE is the last line of defence.

PPE for a guard: uniform and reflective vest at night, helmet where required, torch, whistle, gloves, and ear/eye protection in noisy or dusty posts.

PPE must be inspected before use; damaged equipment is replaced, not repaired with tape.

Manual handling rule: keep the load close, bend the knees not the back, do not twist while lifting, and get help above safe individual limits.

Long night shifts cause fatigue: report drowsiness, use designated rest breaks, and never sleep on post.

Electrical safety: do not touch a casualty still in contact with a live source; isolate the supply before helping.

Hazard reporting: any slip, trip, exposed wiring, or broken light is logged and reported to the supervisor, not just avoided.

Hand hygiene and hydration matter on long outdoor posts; heat stress signs include headache, dizziness, and stopped sweating.

Communication model: sender → message → channel → receiver → feedback; noise is anything that distorts the message.

Radio discipline: listen before transmitting, use call signs, keep messages short, say 'over' to end a transmission and 'out' to end the conversation.

Phonetic alphabet examples: A-Alpha, B-Bravo, C-Charlie, D-Delta, E-Echo; numbers are read digit by digit (1-0 as one-zero).

Incident report contents: date, time, location, persons involved, what happened, action taken, witnesses, and reporting guard's name and signature.

Report writing rules: factual, chronological, first person, no opinions, no blame, no blank spaces, corrections initialled - never erased.

Occurrence book is a legal document; it may be produced in court, so entries must be true, timed, and signed.

Shift handover note must state pending issues, keys held, equipment status, and any instruction received.

Confidentiality: visitor data, CCTV footage, and client information are not shared with outsiders or on social media.

PSARA 2005: security agencies need a licence; the Controlling Authority is designated by the state government; eligibility includes training and character verification of guards.

Private security personnel are not police officers and cannot investigate, detain for interrogation, or use third-degree methods.

Citizen's arrest is limited to a person committing a non-bailable and cognizable offence in the guard's presence; hand over to police at once.

Use of force is lawful only in private defence, must be proportionate, and must stop once the threat ends.

Private security is bound by the right to privacy; body searches require consent or a lawful basis, and same-gender search norms apply.

The guard must cooperate with police, preserve evidence, and give a truthful statement; obstructing police is an offence.

Ethical duties: honesty, impartiality, no accepting bribes or gifts, no discrimination, and no disclosure of client information.

Women's safety and dignity at the workplace: guards must follow the client's Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) policy and report complaints to the ICC.

First impression factors: clean pressed uniform, polished shoes, ID card visible, shaved/neat hair, and fresh breath.

Greeting standard: eye contact, smile, a clear greeting, and offer of help - politeness does not reduce security.

Service recovery: listen without arguing, apologise for the inconvenience (not necessarily the policy), explain the rule, and offer an alternative such as calling the host.

Never argue with a visitor at the gate; escalate to the supervisor and record the incident.

Telephone etiquette: answer within three rings, greet with site name and your name, speak clearly, and write down the message.

Confidentiality and courtesy: do not discuss one visitor's business with another, and do not comment on people's appearance or belongings.

Team behaviour: report on time, take relief promptly, do not leave post without a reliever, and support colleagues during emergencies.

Cultural sensitivity: greet according to the person's preference, avoid personal remarks, and treat all visitors equally regardless of status.

Employability skills: communication, teamwork, problem solving, time management, digital literacy, and workplace safety awareness.

A résumé for a security post lists: personal details, education, PSARA training certificate, experience, and references - one to two pages.

Interview basics: research the employer, dress formally, carry documents, answer with examples, and ask about shift and training.

Entrepreneurship route in this trade: obtain a PSARA agency licence, arrange trained guards, comply with labour law (PF, ESI, minimum wages), and market to clients.

Business plan essentials: service offered, target clients, pricing, cost of guards and equipment, licences, and break-even estimate.

Self-employment support in India: MSME/Udyam registration, MUDRA loans, and state skill-mission training schemes.

Digital tools: email, spreadsheets for duty rosters, and messaging apps for shift coordination - used professionally, not for gossip.

Lifelong learning: refresher training, fire drill participation, and first-aid certification renewal keep a guard employable.