The Beginning of a shift

Upon arrival at a location, a security officer should take a few minutes to familiarize himself with the area; even if it is a post he has worked frequently before in case there are any situational changes. If the officer is relieving another they should be comprehensively debriefed and both should be aware of every relevant event that took pace during any preceding shifts.

The first actions on a site will vary based what the client and management desire the post orders to be, and should always take into consideration the characteristics of the environment. For instance an opening patrol may be necessary if the officer cannot view the entire area to be secured from his post, but may be impossible if the officer is required to remain in one area with a high activity level.