The role of a guard is to ensure the security and safety of a facility or property. This can include monitoring and surveillance, controlling access, responding to incidents and emergencies, writing reports, and providing excellent customer service. In this article, we will discuss a guard’s five basic duties and responsibilities in more detail.
Monitoring and Surveillance
One of the most important duties of a guard is monitoring and surveillance. By keeping a watchful eye on the property, guards can prevent and detect criminal activity and identify any potential safety hazards. Guards use several methods for monitoring and surveillance, such as CCTV cameras, patrols, and check-ins.
CCTV cameras are often used to monitor large areas, such as parking lots, lobbies, and common areas. Security Guards can monitor the footage in real-time or review it later to identify any suspicious activity. For example, if a guard notices a person loitering around a parked car in a parking lot, they can investigate and potentially prevent a car break-in. In addition, CCTV cameras can also be used to monitor high-risk areas such as cash registers, vaults, and server rooms to ensure that no unauthorized person enters and steal or damage assets.
Patrols are another common method of monitoring and surveillance. Guards will walk or drive around the property to check for any unusual activity or potential hazards. This can include checking doors and windows to ensure they are secure, looking for any signs of damage or vandalism, and checking for potential fire hazards. For example, a guard on patrol may notice that a door to a building is open and investigate to ensure it’s not a security breach. Check-ins are also used, where the guard will visit certain areas of the property at set intervals to ensure everything is in order. For example, a guard may check in on the security of a construction site every hour to ensure that all the equipment is still secure and no one has trespassed.
Access Control
Another essential duty of a guard is controlling access to a facility or property. This can include checking IDs, issuing key cards, and using biometric scanners. By controlling access, guards can ensure that only authorized individuals are allowed on the property, which can help prevent crime and protect the safety of those authorized to be there. For example, a guard can check the identification of a person who wants to enter a building and ensure that they are authorized to be there before allowing them to enter.
Another aspect of access control is keeping an eye on the entrance and exit points to a building or property. This can involve keeping an eye on workers, contractors, and guests when they enter the building. To guarantee that a contractor entering a building is permitted and is only granted access to the places they need to finish their work, a guard could, for instance, check their ID.
Incident Response
Guards must also be prepared to respond to incidents and emergencies. This can include fires, medical emergencies, and criminal activity. Guards need to clearly understand the procedures and protocols they should follow when responding to incidents and emergencies. These protocols will vary depending on the specific incident, but they generally include calling for help, evacuating the area, and providing first aid if necessary. For example, if a guard notices smoke coming from a building, they should immediately call the fire department and evacuate it.
Incident response also includes the ability to handle difficult situations, such as dealing with aggressive or uncooperative individuals. Guards must remain calm and composed under pressure and be able to de-escalate potentially violent situations. They should also be trained in self-defense and other security measures to ensure their safety while responding to incidents. For example, a guard may need to use physical restraint techniques to subdue an individual causing a disturbance or call for backup if they feel threatened.
Report Writing
Documenting events or strange activities they notice is another crucial guard task. Security work requires precise and accurate paperwork, and guards may be asked to prepare a variety of reports. This can contain security evaluations, daily records, and incident reports. These reports offer crucial data that can be used to strengthen security rules and procedures. For instance, if a security guard observes a pattern of theft in a particular location, they would include it in their report so that management might take the appropriate action to address it.
Report writing also involves maintaining detailed records of the events during their shift, including the time, date, location, and other relevant information. This documentation can be used as evidence in case of a crime or as a reference for future security assessments.
Customer Service
Guards may also be required to interact with customers and provide excellent customer service. This can include answering questions, providing directions, and helping with any concerns or issues that customers may have. To provide excellent customer service, guards must be friendly, approachable, and understand the facility or property well. For example, a guard may need to assist a lost visitor by providing directions to their destination within the facility.
Customer service also includes being able to handle customer complaints or concerns in a professional manner. For example, if a customer is upset about a policy or procedure, the guard should be able to explain the reasoning behind it and offer possible solutions.
Conclusion
Finally, it should be noted that a guard’s responsibilities are various and crucial to maintaining the facility or property’s security and safety. The safety and security of persons who have permission to be on the property can be protected and enhanced, and criminal conduct can be discouraged with the support of guards who carry out these responsibilities. It’s critical that security personnel are appropriately qualified, presentable, and equipped to deal with any eventuality. Guards must be able to carry out these tasks proficiently to ensure the safety of the people and the property. They demand a combination of technical, mental, and physical abilities.