Lesson 1: What post orders are
Post orders are the written instructions for one security post. They are agreed between the security company and the client, and they tell any guard on that post what to do and how to do it. They let a new guard work the same way as an experienced one.
What post orders usually contain
- Site details: address, hours, layout, entrances and sensitive areas.
- Contacts: supervisor, dispatch, client contacts and emergency numbers.
- Duties: patrol routes and times, access control rules, alarm response and lock-up.
- Emergency steps: fire, medical, bomb threat, lockdown and evacuation.
- Reporting: what to record, which forms to use and when to call someone.
- Check-in times if you work alone.
- Uniform, equipment and conduct rules for the site.
Why they matter
Post orders protect everyone. The client knows what service to expect. The guard knows exactly what is allowed and what is not. If something goes wrong, the post orders show what the guard was told to do. A guard who follows them, and records what happened, is in a much stronger position than one who improvised.
General, specific and temporary orders
| Type | What it covers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| General orders | Rules for all guards at all sites | Uniform standards, notebook rules |
| Specific post orders | Duties at one site or post | Lock the loading dock at 22:00 |
| Temporary orders | Short-term changes | Contractor access this week only |
Lesson 2: Following post orders
- Read the full post orders before your first shift at a new site.
- At the start of every shift, check for updates and temporary orders.
- Sign or initial to show you have read them, if your site requires it.
- Follow them as written. Do not invent shortcuts.
- If something is unclear, ask your supervisor before you act.
The law comes first
Post orders can never authorize something the law does not allow. Your powers come from the law and your licence, not from a client. For example, in British Columbia, security workers may not carry a badge, wear a Sam Browne belt, or carry items designed to injure or control people, such as batons or pepper spray, no matter what a client wants.
Conflicting instructions
If a client asks for something different from the post orders, stay polite and call your supervisor. Record the request, who made it and what you were told. This protects you, the client and your employer.
Lesson 3: Shift handover
The handover is when one guard passes the post to the next. Most problems at handover come from rushing. Arrive early and do it face to face when you can.
Handover checklist
- Incidents during the shift and anything still open.
- People or deliveries expected, and contractors still on site.
- Alarms, faults, broken locks or doors and lights that are out.
- Keys and access cards: count them together and record the count.
- Equipment: radio, phone, flashlight and charger, and whether each works.
- New or temporary orders.
- Check-in times for the next shift.
Both guards should sign or initial the log to show the handover happened and what was handed over.
Never abandon your post
If your relief does not arrive, do not leave. Call your supervisor or dispatch, write down the time and what you were told, and stay until you are relieved or told to go. If you work alone, the end-of-shift check-in confirms you left safely. In BC, lone worker check-in procedures must include a check at the end of the shift.
Lesson 4: Logs and notebooks
The daily activity log shows what happened at the post during each shift. Your notebook holds your own notes, made at the time. Both may be read later by your employer, the client, police or a court.
A sample notebook entry layout.
- The date
- The time of each entry, in the 24-hour clock
- The location
- What you saw and did, in plain facts
- Your signature or initials
- Write entries at the time or as soon as possible after.
- Use the 24-hour clock: 7:45 p.m. is 19:45.
- Record facts: who, what, where, when and how. Leave out guesses and opinions.
- Do not leave blank lines or spaces between entries.
- Fix a mistake with a single line through it so it can still be read, and initial it. Never erase or tear out pages.
Some events need their own report. In BC, any use of force, including blocking someone's way or physically holding them, must be recorded on SPD Form 0513 (Use of Force Incident Report) or an equivalent and given to your manager.
Lesson 5: Licence rules on post
Your licence rules apply every minute you work. They differ by province, so learn your own. Two examples:
| Province | Licence rule on the job |
|---|---|
| Alberta | Carry your original licence card while working, and give your employer a photocopy. |
| British Columbia | Carry the physical licence, not a photo. Show it to anyone who asks, except armoured car guards and door staff at liquor establishments. Report charges, convictions and address changes. |
Professional habits on post
- Arrive fit for duty, rested and in full uniform.
- Keep the post orders, codes and logs out of public view.
- Stay at your post or on your patrol route unless the orders say otherwise.
- Keep personal phone use to breaks.
- Treat everyone with respect, and report problems through the right channels.