Mixed Deck — All ABST Topics Flashcards

When conducting an interior patrol, which area should a security officer pay special attention to?

Answer: All areas including stairwells, restrooms, storage rooms, and blind spots

Thorough interior patrols include low-traffic and blind-spot areas where incidents or hazards are more likely to go unnoticed.

A post-order explains your duties for a particular shift.

Answer: True

A post-order is a crucial document in security operations that clearly outlines the specific duties, responsibilities, and procedures for a security professional during a particular shift or at a specific post. It serves as a guide to ensure consistent and effective performance of assigned tasks. Adhering to post-orders is a fundamental aspect of professional security work.

When a security guard first approaches a potentially aggressive person, what should their initial response be?

Answer: Use verbal communication and attempt to calm the situation

The first step in conflict resolution is verbal communication — talking calmly can often resolve a situation without any physical intervention.

You may arrest an individual who you believe has committed a crime even though you did not see the criminal activity take place.

Answer: False

In Alberta, security professionals generally operate under the same arrest powers as a private citizen, which are outlined in the Criminal Code of Canada. A private citizen can only arrest someone they find committing an indictable offense, or if they have reasonable grounds to believe an indictable offense has been committed and are in fresh pursuit. Therefore, you cannot simply arrest someone based on belief without witnessing the crime or being in fresh pursuit.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects individuals from unreasonable search and seizure by government agents. What is the primary implication of this for a security professional acting as a private citizen?

Answer: They are not bound by the Charter because they are not government agents, but they still cannot search individuals without consent or legal justification.

The Charter primarily applies to actions by the government and its agents (like police). While a security professional is a private citizen and not directly bound by the Charter in the same way, common law and the Criminal Code still place strict limits on their ability to search individuals. A search without consent is generally illegal and can constitute assault, unless it is conducted as a safety measure incidental to a lawful arrest.

In crowd control, what does the acronym 'SOP' stand for?

Answer: Standard Operating Procedure

SOP stands for Standard Operating Procedure, which outlines the approved steps for handling various security scenarios.

When a security guard uses verbal judo, they are:

Answer: Using calm, strategic language to redirect behaviour and reduce conflict

Verbal judo involves using calm, empathetic, and strategic language to redirect a person's behaviour and resolve conflict without physical force.

if you hear a fire alarm, the first thing you should do is evacuate the building.

Answer: True

Upon hearing a fire alarm, the immediate priority is always the safety of occupants. Evacuating the building according to established emergency procedures is the first and most critical action to ensure everyone gets to a safe location. Other actions, like investigating the cause, come only after ensuring the safety of all individuals.

According to the Alberta Security Services Code of Conduct, which of the following behaviours best demonstrates professionalism and integrity?

Answer: Maintaining a neat, clean, and complete uniform while on duty.

The Code of Conduct for security professionals in Alberta emphasizes maintaining a professional demeanor, which includes being in a clean and complete uniform at all times while on duty. Accepting tips, sharing confidential incident details, and inappropriate use of personal devices are generally considered unprofessional and may violate company policy and the code of conduct.

In the event of a medical emergency where a person is found unresponsive, what is the primary role of an ABST-certified security professional who does NOT have advanced medical training?

Answer: Secure the scene to ensure the safety of the victim and bystanders, and call for professional medical help.

The primary role of a security professional in a medical emergency is to ensure the scene is safe for everyone, prevent further harm, and activate the professional emergency response system (i.e., call 911 or the site's emergency number). Unless specifically trained and certified in first aid/CPR, they should not perform medical interventions, as this could cause further injury.

While on duty, a security professional discovers a contractor who has fallen from a ladder and is conscious but in obvious pain and unable to move. After ensuring the scene is safe for everyone, what should be the security professional's immediate priority?

Answer: Activate emergency medical services (call 911).

The primary responsibility in a medical emergency is the well-being of the injured person. For a potentially serious injury, such as a fall from a height, the correct and immediate action is to call for professional medical help (911). Moving the person could worsen potential spinal injuries, and detailed investigation can wait until after aid has been summoned and rendered.

Which of the following BEST describes the primary difference between criminal law and civil law in the Canadian legal system?

Answer: Criminal law focuses on punishing acts against society, while civil law aims to resolve private disputes between individuals or organizations.

Criminal law deals with offences against the state or society as a whole (e.g., theft, assault) and aims to punish offenders. Civil law addresses private disputes between parties (e.g., contract breaches, property damage) and seeks to provide compensation or remedies.

While on patrol, you witness a verbal altercation that does not escalate physically and resolves on its own. According to ABST standards for documentation, what is the correct course of action?

Answer: Make a detailed entry in your notebook about the observation.

Security professionals are required to document their findings, observations, and actions taken during their shift. Even incidents that resolve themselves should be noted. This creates a complete record of activities on the property, which can be useful for identifying patterns, demonstrating due diligence, or recalling details for a future investigation.

When using a radio to report a crowd incident, a security officer should:

Answer: Speak clearly, briefly, and provide location, nature of incident, and assistance needed

Concise radio communication ensures supervisors receive actionable information immediately.

If a security officer discovers an unlocked door that should be secured during a patrol, they should:

Answer: Secure it, document the incident, and report it to a supervisor promptly

Securing the door immediately addresses the risk, and documentation ensures accountability and follow-up.

A key principle of 'observe and report' means a security officer should:

Answer: Document and report all observations accurately without personal interpretation or alteration

Accurate, unbiased observation and prompt reporting ensures decision-makers have reliable information to act on.

Under the Security Services and Investigators Act regulations, what is a key requirement regarding the uniform worn by a security professional?

Answer: It must not resemble the uniform of a police officer.

The regulations under the Security Services and Investigators Act explicitly state that a security professional's uniform must not resemble that of a police officer or other law enforcement agencies. This is to prevent public confusion and ensure a clear distinction between private security and public law enforcement.

Which of the following is an example of passive crowd control?

Answer: Barriers, signage, and lighting that guide crowd behavior without officer intervention

Passive crowd control uses environmental design—barriers, signs, and lighting—to influence behavior without direct officer involvement.

An individual security license may be transferred:

Answer: Never

An individual security license in Alberta is personal and non-transferable. It is issued to a specific person based on their qualifications, background checks, and training. It cannot be transferred to another individual or automatically renewed under different conditions, ensuring that only qualified and licensed individuals perform security duties.

Individuals holding an individual license in the province of Alberta may not refer to themselves as:

Answer: Peace Officer

Individuals holding an individual security license in Alberta are explicitly prohibited from referring to themselves as 'Peace Officers.' Peace officers have specific legal powers and authorities granted under federal or provincial legislation (e.g., police officers, RCMP, certain bylaw officers). Security professionals, while having certain powers, do not hold the designation of a peace officer.