SIA Guard Security Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the 'five Ws' approach to gathering information about a security incident?
- Who, What, Where, When, Why (Correct answer)
- Witness, Weapon, Weather, Warning, Written
- Walk, Watch, Wait, Warn, Write
- Width, Weight, Wound, Warrant, Witness
Correct answer: Who, What, Where, When, Why
The five Ws — Who, What, Where, When, Why (and sometimes How) — provide a structured approach to gathering and recording all essential information about a security incident.
Question 2: What should a security guard do if they encounter an intruder on site?
- Chase and physically restrain them
- Observe from a safe distance, note their description, do not confront, call the police, and report to the control room (Correct answer)
- Ignore them if they are not causing damage
- Ask them politely to leave and then forget about it
Correct answer: Observe from a safe distance, note their description, do not confront, call the police, and report to the control room
Personal safety is paramount. Observe the intruder from a safe distance, note their description, direction of travel, and any vehicle details. Do not confront them — call the police and report to the control room.
Question 3: What is a 'guard tour system' and what is its purpose?
- A tourism guide for security guards
- An electronic system that records when and where a guard has patrolled, providing proof that checks have been completed (Correct answer)
- A GPS navigation device for mobile patrols
- A guard's personal fitness tracker
Correct answer: An electronic system that records when and where a guard has patrolled, providing proof that checks have been completed
A guard tour system uses checkpoints (electronic tags, QR codes, or NFC points) placed around the site that the guard scans during patrols. It creates an audit trail proving patrols were completed at the correct times.
Question 4: What is the correct procedure for a security guard discovering a health and safety hazard?
- Fix it themselves regardless of qualification
- Make the area safe if possible, report the hazard to the site manager and log it in the incident book (Correct answer)
- Ignore it — it's not their responsibility
- Only report it if someone gets injured
Correct answer: Make the area safe if possible, report the hazard to the site manager and log it in the incident book
The guard should take immediate steps to make the area safe (e.g., cordon off a wet floor), report the hazard to the site manager or facilities team, and document it in the incident log. Do not attempt repairs you are not qualified for.
Question 5: Why is effective communication important between a security guard and the control room?
- To pass the time during quiet periods
- To ensure real-time situational awareness, coordinate responses, and maintain a record of events (Correct answer)
- To check on the weather forecast
- To arrange social events
Correct answer: To ensure real-time situational awareness, coordinate responses, and maintain a record of events
Regular communication with the control room ensures situational awareness, enables coordinated responses to incidents, provides welfare checks for lone workers, and creates an auditable record of the guard's activities.
Question 6: What is 'lone working' and what risks does it present for security guards?
- Working with only one client
- Working alone without direct supervision, which presents risks including confrontation, medical emergencies, and delayed assistance (Correct answer)
- Working for only one security company
- Working on a single-storey building
Correct answer: Working alone without direct supervision, which presents risks including confrontation, medical emergencies, and delayed assistance
Lone working means working alone without colleagues nearby. Risks include: confrontation without backup, medical emergencies with no one to help, vulnerability to attack, and delayed response from emergency services.
SIA Guard Security Procedures 2
What is the 'five Ws' approach to gathering information about a security incident?