PSIRA Grade E key terms

The statutory body that registers security service providers and security officers in South Africa, sets standards of conduct, and may suspend or withdraw a registration when the law or its code is broken.

A business that supplies security services such as guarding, armed response or crowd control, and which must be registered with the regulator before it may trade or employ security officers.

A person registered to perform guarding, access control, patrol or related protective duties for a security service provider, and who is bound by the industry code of conduct while on duty.

The official card or document issued to a registered security officer, showing identity, registration number and grade, which the officer must carry and produce on request while on duty.

A level of training and competence, from Grade E upward, that determines which duties and posts an officer may legally be assigned, with higher grades requiring more training and experience.

The set of rules governing how security officers must behave, including honesty, courtesy, lawful use of force and protection of confidential information, and which can lead to disciplinary action if breached.

The principles of right behaviour that guide an officer's choices on duty, such as honesty, fairness, loyalty to lawful instructions and refusal to take bribes or abuse authority.

A situation where an officer's personal interests, relationships or outside business could improperly influence how the officer performs duty, which must be declared and avoided.

Offering, giving, receiving or agreeing to receive money or a favour in exchange for doing or not doing a duty, which is a crime and a serious breach of the code of conduct.

A small gift, tip or favour given to an officer, often to create a sense of obligation; accepting one that could influence the officer's judgement is improper and should be reported.

The physical action an officer takes to overcome resistance or defend against attack; it must be lawful, necessary and no more than reasonably required in the circumstances.

The rule that an officer may use only the least amount of physical force needed to achieve a lawful purpose, stopping as soon as the resistance or danger ends.

Force that goes beyond what is lawful, necessary and reasonable in the situation, making the officer liable to criminal and civil action and to disciplinary steps by the regulator.

The lawful use of reasonable force to protect oneself from an imminent unlawful attack, which must be proportionate and may only be used while the danger exists.

The lawful use of reasonable and necessary force to protect another person from an imminent unlawful attack, judged by the same proportionate standard as self-defence.

A power allowing a private person, including a security officer, to arrest someone found committing or suspected of a serious offence, after which the person must be handed to the police without delay.

Holding a person in custody, which an officer may do only where the law permits, for the shortest time necessary, and must then hand the person to the police.

A physical examination of a person, vehicle or property for prohibited or stolen items, which must follow the site's lawful rules, respect dignity and be carried out with a witness where required.

The duty not to reveal information about the client, staff, premises or incidents to anyone who is not authorised to receive it, including on social media or to friends and family.

Failing to take the care a reasonable security officer would take, such as leaving a gate open or skipping a patrol, which can cause loss and lead to legal and disciplinary consequences.

The legal and ethical obligation to protect the safety of people and property within the officer's area of responsibility by acting carefully, alertly and within instructions.

The written instructions for a specific post describing the officer's duties, access rules, patrol times, emergency procedures and reporting lines, which must be read, understood and followed.

The process of deciding who and what may enter or leave a site, and recording it, using methods such as identity checks, visitor registers, permits and vehicle inspections.

Checking that a person is who they claim to be, usually by comparing a photo identity document or staff card to the person and recording the details before granting entry.

A record of every visitor's name, identity number, contact details, host, purpose and time in and out, kept securely and used to account for people on site in an emergency.

An unauthorised person following an authorised person through a controlled entrance without presenting credentials, which officers must watch for and politely challenge.

The outer layer of protection around a site, such as fences, walls, gates and lighting, which officers check for damage, gaps and tampering during patrols.

A planned, systematic walk or drive through an area to deter crime, detect hazards and irregularities, and confirm that doors, windows and equipment are secure.

A marked checkpoint, often electronic, that an officer must visit and record during a patrol to prove the route was walked at the required time and in the required order.

The official bound register in which officers record incidents, patrols, handovers and unusual events in chronological order, serving as a legal record of what happened on duty.

A written account of an event such as a theft, injury or trespass, stating who, what, when, where, how and what action was taken, in factual and objective language.

The briefing in which a departing officer passes on keys, equipment, incidents and outstanding matters to the incoming officer so that the post continues without gaps or confusion.

The documented record of who handled evidence, when and where, from seizure to handover to police, proving the item was not tampered with or lost.

The site's written procedures for reacting to fire, medical emergencies, bomb threats or intrusions, setting out alarms, evacuation routes, duties and contact numbers.

The orderly movement of people out of a building or area to a safe place when danger arises, carried out calmly along marked routes without using lifts.

A pre-arranged safe outdoor location where people gather after evacuation so that they can be counted and accounted for against the visitor register and staff list.

A portable device for putting out small fires, chosen by class of fire, aimed at the base of the flames and used only when the user has a clear escape route.

The three elements needed for fire: fuel, oxygen and heat; removing any one of them puts the fire out, which explains why smothering, cooling or starving a fire works.

The routine steps taken to stop fires starting, such as keeping exits clear, storing flammable materials safely, banning smoking in risk areas and reporting faulty wiring.

The legal duty of employers and workers to keep the workplace safe, including providing protective equipment, training and safe systems of work that officers must follow.