CHAPTER 1: IDENTIFY THE NEED TO USE DEFENSIVE TECHNIQUES AND ASSESS RESPONSE OPTIONS

Objectives

  1. Read and follow workplace policies and procedures including workplace health and safety (WHS) to ensure compliance with legal rights and responsibilities when using basic defensive techniques and achieving Defensive Readiness in all situations.
  2. Maintain situational awareness and identify threat to safety of self or others. Defensive Readiness should be prioritised in every assessment.
  3. Assess response and withdrawal options to prevent escalation and minimise use of force in accordance with legislative and workplace requirements.
  4. Check personal safety requirements and seek advice or assistance from relevant persons.

1.1 Read and follow workplace policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety (WHS), to ensure compliance with legal rights and responsibilities when using basic defensive techniques.

  • A security guard’s duties and obligations do not stop guarding, monitoring, patrolling, and reporting to authorities in the event of any criminal behaviour. However, Defensive Readiness underpins all these responsibilities.
  • Sometimes, they may be expected to run errands, answer their boss’s texts and phone calls, and take on extra obligations.
  • Understanding the tasks and responsibilities of unarmed security guards will help us work more effectively with them.

Basic defensive techniques

  • Avoidance techniques
  • Blocking techniques
  • Body positioning
  • Body safety
  • Empty hand techniques
  • Impact techniques
  • Locking and holding techniques
  • Take-down techniques.

1.2 Maintain situational awareness and identify threat to the safety of self or others.

  • The ability of security personnel to identify, process, and comprehend information about how to survive in an emergency while performing security work is called situational awareness.
  • One of the most important aspects for a security guard is effective observation, so it makes sense to find ways to be as alert as possible. Furthermore, Defensive Readiness is enhanced by maintaining strong observation skills.
  • Situational awareness refers to security personnel’s knowledge and attitude towards protecting the organisation’s physical and informational assets.
  • It means you recognise that some people will accidentally steal, damage, and misuse company assets on your site or on purpose.

Situational awareness in your site means you should be aware of the following:

  • The situation can change at any time.
  • Be aware of the entry and exit points.
  • The location of the hazardous material storage.
  • A valuable asset’s location.
  • The fire protection system and equipment.
  • The method of emergency planning and response.
  • The area is not covered by CCTV or alarm.

1.3 Assess response and withdrawal options to prevent escalation and minimise the use of force in accordance with legislative and workplace requirements.

  • As a security guard, there will be instances when you will have no choice but to use force to achieve an operational goal or to defend yourself and/or others from a serious situation.
  • Security officers lack the authority to use force.
  • You can protect yourself or another person from physical harm and/or potential litigation by only using the skills and proper level of force as needed.
  • In any case, the security officer should exhaust all other options before resorting to physical force.

Legislative requirements may include:

  • Apprehension and powers of arrest
  • Australian standards and quality assurance requirements
  • Counter-terrorism
  • Crowd control and control of persons under the influence of intoxicating substances
  • Force continuum, use of force guidelines
  • General ‘duty of care’ responsibilities
  • Inspection of people and property, and search and seizure of goods
  • Licensing or certification requirements
  • Privacy
  • Relevant commonwealth, state and territory legislation, codes and national standards for: Anti-discrimination, Cultural and ethnic diversity, Environmental issues, Equal employment opportunity, Industrial relations and Occupational health and safety (OHS)
  • Relevant industry codes of practice
  • Trespass and the removal of persons.

Response and withdrawal options

  • Defusing the situation
  • Evacuating the premises
  • Isolating area of potential risk
  • Isolating risk
  • Notifying relevant emergency services agencies
  • Providing access for emergency services
  • Provision of first aid
  • Request for support and assistance
  • Restraint of person
  • Tactical withdrawal
  • Use of basic defensive techniques
  • Use of empty hand techniques
  • Use of negotiation techniques.

1.4 Check personal safety requirements and seek advice or assistance from relevant persons.

  • In addition to ensuring the security of others, it is crucial to ensure the safety of the security officers who guard others. For this purpose, Defensive Readiness is vital.
  • Numerous security professionals risk their safety while performing their routine jobs.
  • Security personnel and their managers can take several preventative measures to provide the safest working circumstances possible.

Personal safety requirements may relate to the following:

  • Appropriate vehicle
  • Provision of back-up support
  • Regular communication
  • Specific security equipment
  • Taking an alternative route
  • Working in a team.
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