PSIRA Grade E cheat sheet

PSIRA is the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, established under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001.

Every security service provider must be registered with PSIRA, and every security officer must hold a valid PSIRA registration certificate and identity card.

Registration categories run from Grade E (entry level) upward; a Grade E officer may not perform duties reserved for higher grades.

A security officer's powers are those of a private citizen: no power of arrest beyond citizen's arrest, no search without consent or lawful authority, no detention.

Citizen's arrest under the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 is lawful only where a person is suspected of committing an offence in the officer's presence, and the person must be delivered to the police without delay.

Use of force must be reasonable and proportionate; deadly force is only justified in defence of life or to prevent a serious violent crime.

Confidentiality: information about clients, premises, employees and incidents may not be disclosed except to the client, PSIRA, or the SAPS as required by law.

Ethical conduct requires honesty, impartiality, no acceptance of bribes or gifts that could influence duty, and no discrimination.

Core duties: protect life and property, control access, patrol, observe and report, respond to incidents, and maintain the security log.

A security officer reports to the shift supervisor, who reports to the site manager; the client's instructions apply only where they do not conflict with the employer's orders or the law.

An officer may not leave a post unattended; absence from post must be authorised and covered by a relief officer.

An officer must be fit for duty: no alcohol or drugs, correct uniform, valid PSIRA card, and on time for handover.

Handover procedure: receive the occurrence book, keys, equipment and outstanding instructions, and sign for them before assuming duty.

An officer must not perform duties outside the scope of the site's assignment (for example, maintenance or personal errands for client staff).

Negligence or collusion in a loss exposes the officer to disciplinary action, dismissal and possible criminal liability.

Access control has three steps: identify the person, verify authorisation (permit, list, appointment), and record entry and exit.

Three common access control methods are the token system (card, key, tag), the personal recognition system, and the register or appointment system.

Never admit a person on verbal assurance alone; verify against the authorised list or contact the client representative.

Visitors must be issued a visitor's pass, escorted where required, and their pass recovered and entry logged out on departure.

Vehicles: check the driver's authority, record registration number, and inspect the load against the delivery or removal document.

Patrol types include foot patrol, vehicle patrol, and clock-point patrol; a patrol must vary route and timing to avoid predictability.

Clock points or checkpoint keys must be touched in sequence and the times recorded in the occurrence book.

On patrol, check doors, windows, locks, lights, fire equipment, and suspicious objects; report rather than disturb anything suspicious.

All keys must be signed in and out on a key register; a lost key must be reported immediately.

Fire triangle: fuel, oxygen and heat must all be present; removing any one extinguishes the fire.

Fire classes: A (solids such as wood and paper), B (flammable liquids), C (flammable gases), D (metals), and electrical fires; the extinguisher must match the class.

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

Water conducts electricity and must never be used on electrical fires; CO2 and dry powder are suitable for electrical fires.

On discovering a fire: raise the alarm, call the fire service, evacuate, and only fight the fire if trained and it is safe to do so.

Evacuation: use the nearest safe exit, never use lifts, stay low under smoke, and assemble at the designated assembly point for a head count.

Emergency priorities in order: life safety, incident stabilisation, then property protection.

First aid basics: the primary survey is Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation (DRABC); severe bleeding is controlled by direct pressure.

Incident scene: secure the area, preserve evidence, do not move injured persons unless there is immediate danger, and record details.

The occurrence book (OB) is a permanent, chronological, factual record; entries are made in ink, in sequence, without erasure or blank spaces.

An entry states who, what, where, when, how and what action was taken; opinions and speculation are excluded.

Corrections are made by drawing a single line through the error, writing the correction alongside, and initialling and dating it.

Reports must be accurate, complete, concise, legible, time-stamped and signed by the officer.

Radio procedure: listen before transmitting, use call signs, keep messages brief, and use the phonetic alphabet for spelling.

Urgent incidents are reported immediately by the fastest means; routine matters are recorded and reported at handover.

Customer service principles: greet courteously, be helpful and professional, listen actively, and never argue with a client or member of the public.

A complaint is recorded, acknowledged, and referred to the supervisor; the officer does not make promises the site cannot keep.

Handover notes must list outstanding incidents, keys, equipment and instructions so the relieving officer can continue the duty.

Uniform must be clean, complete and worn as prescribed; the PSIRA identity card must be carried and produced on request.

Sleeping on duty, intoxication, and abandoning a post are serious misconduct offences that may lead to dismissal and PSIRA deregistration.

Officers must not fraternise improperly with client staff, accept unauthorised gifts, or use client property for personal purposes.

All incidents of theft, assault, injury or damage must be reported to the supervisor and the SAPS where a crime is suspected.

An officer must obey lawful instructions from supervisors and the client, but may refuse an instruction that is unlawful or unsafe.

Confidentiality applies to client operations, staff information, access codes and security arrangements; discuss them only with authorised persons.

Personal appearance, punctuality and honesty are the foundation of the officer's credibility in court and with the client.

A statement must be factual, in the first person, chronological, and contain only what the officer personally saw, heard or did.

Record exact times, names, descriptions and locations; avoid estimating where a fact can be verified.

Evidence must be preserved in place, protected from contamination, and handed to the SAPS with a signed register entry.

Use a scene log to record every person who enters or leaves a protected scene.

Photographs, if taken, must be logged with time, place and the name of the photographer.

Statements are signed and dated; the officer may be required to testify in court and must be able to defend every entry.

Never alter, remove or destroy records once an incident has occurred; the occurrence book may become evidence.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 requires employers to provide a safe workplace and employees to obey safety rules.

An officer must know the location of fire extinguishers, first aid kits, emergency exits and the assembly point on every site.

Personal protective equipment issued must be used as instructed and defects reported.

All injuries on duty must be reported immediately and entered in the injury register.

Electrical, chemical and hazardous areas are marked and must not be entered without authorisation and correct equipment.

Emergency contact numbers (SAPS, ambulance, fire, supervisor, client) must be available at the post.

Housekeeping reduces risk: keep exits and fire equipment clear, report damaged locks, lights and wiring.

Observation means noting details deliberately; perception is the interpretation of what is observed and can be mistaken.

Describe persons by age, sex, height, build, hair, clothing, distinguishing marks and direction of travel.

Describe vehicles by make, model, colour, registration number and distinguishing features.

A patrol report records route, times, checkpoints touched and irregularities found.

Suspicious behaviour includes loitering, forced entry, unusual loads, and persons in restricted areas without authorisation.

Do not confront armed or violent suspects alone; observe, withdraw to safety, and call for assistance.

Vary patrol routes and times so that intruders cannot predict the officer's movements.

Radio call signs identify the station and the officer; the control room is usually the base station.

The phonetic alphabet replaces letters with words (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) to avoid mishearing.

Speak clearly, slowly and briefly; hold the microphone correctly and do not interrupt an ongoing transmission.

Telephone etiquette: answer promptly, identify the site and your name, and record the caller's name, time and message.

Emergency calls to SAPS or ambulance must state location, nature of incident, injuries and caller's contact number.

Never disclose security information over the telephone to an unidentified caller; verify identity first.

Written messages must be legible and signed, with time and date recorded.

The security officer is often the first person a visitor meets and represents the client's image.

Greet politely, offer assistance, and give clear directions; do not leave the post to escort unless authorised.

Handle complaints by listening, recording, acknowledging and referring to the supervisor.

Remain calm and courteous when provoked; do not use abusive language or physical force except in lawful defence.

Treat all persons equally regardless of race, sex, religion or appearance.

A professional appearance and manner reduce conflict and build trust with the client and public.

Never make promises about client services that are outside the officer's authority.

The assembly point is a pre-designated safe area where all persons are counted after evacuation.

Evacuation wardens direct people to exits and check that areas are clear.

Fire drills are practised so that evacuation is orderly and timed.

During evacuation, keep calm, walk, do not run, and do not return for belongings.

Close doors behind you to slow the spread of fire and smoke.

Smoke rises; stay low and cover the nose and mouth with a cloth if smoke is present.

Report to the warden at the assembly point so a head count can be made.

The visitor register records name, identity number, company, person visited, time in, time out and pass number.

The key register records every key issued, to whom, time out and time returned.

The occurrence book records all incidents, patrols, visitors, deliveries and handovers.

Registers must be completed in ink, never erased, and kept for the period required by the client and employer.

Records may be produced in court or at a disciplinary hearing and must be accurate and complete.

Only authorised persons may read security registers; confidentiality applies.

Force may be used only to defend oneself or another, to prevent a serious crime, or to effect a lawful citizen's arrest.

Force must be the minimum necessary and must stop once resistance ends.

Firearms may be used only where life is in danger; a warning, where possible, must precede the use of a firearm.

After any use of force, the officer must report immediately, complete an incident report, and preserve evidence.

Restraint must not be used as punishment and the detained person must be handed to SAPS without delay.

Excessive force exposes the officer to criminal charges and civil liability.

On assuming duty, the officer must be briefed on the site layout, access points, alarms and emergency procedures.

The handover includes keys, equipment, occurrence book, radio and outstanding instructions.

All equipment must be checked and defects reported before the previous officer leaves.

The officer must know the location of the fire panel, first aid kit and emergency exits.

The relieving officer signs the occurrence book to confirm acceptance of duty.

Any change in the site's security arrangements must be recorded and reported to the supervisor.

Integrity means doing the right thing even when unobserved.

Bribery, theft, collusion and falsification of records are criminal and disciplinary offences.

An officer must not accept gifts or favours that could compromise impartial duty.

Reports must be truthful; a false statement is an offence and destroys credibility in court.

Confidential information must be protected and not used for personal gain.

The officer must set an example of honesty, punctuality and respect for the law.