Job Responsibilities
On a ratio of time being a Security Officer and time being an
Emergency Services Officer on any one particular site, has got
to be 1:30 in talking of hours. Although, if something is
required of an Emergency Services Officer (ESO), then that takes
100% priority before anything else. This includes anything from
a bruised finger to a fatality or multiple fatalities, or some
other emergency on my designated site (e.g. fire). After the
casualty has been taken care of, (either determined well enough
to return to work or arrange to take him/her to a hospital),
clean up and sterilisation needs to always be 2nd to none on the
list, in this capacity. Training on this is a necessary
requirement and major concentration during the course of First
Aid level 3. The next-most critical item during the course is on
reporting, in this case to the client. The reports need to be
made as accurate as possible, always detailing times and what
eventuated. This follows in accordance with Australian Law and
can be treated as evidence, so everything needs to be noted in
legible and concise detail, no shorthand or personal notes. You
are liable to whatever is on this report and can be prosecuted
if wrong details are purposely entered.
As a Security Guard who is mainly based in a gatehouse, my
primary duties there are signing people into/out of the site,
looking after company stock, monitoring video surveillance for
suspicious activity, ensuring all personnel on site are obeying
all company policies and rules involving Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE), any traffic regulations, monitoring for illegal
activities or any activity that could potentially discredit the
company. When gathering this information, my job is simply to
Observe, Monitor and Report with the exception of potential
danger, and then I am to also interact with prevention of this
potential. Time in the gatehouse(s) can be approximately 80% of
the day. The following 20% is normally divided into patrols of
and around site, welfare checks on other guards, making yourself
visual to anybody as a visual deterent, liaising and reporting
to client, ensuring everything is reasonably secure and only the
proper personnel are attending.
The job is based on a 24 hour rotating roster, so days with
little sleep cannot be avoided, but benefits are quite numerous
on these types of jobs.
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Job Requirements
Security level 3 and First Aid level 3 are both requirements of
the site. As reporting is done on computer, certain basic
computer skills are also necessary.
Knowledge of Law is essential to Security and knowing the bounds
of what can be done with that entitlement.
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Uppers
For the most part of the job, after about 1900 hrs when everything has settle
down, the boundaries of the site are your playground. A visual deterent is a
major thing in Security, so driving around can seem like a waste of time but in
reality it's very important. Depending on the site, sometimes during these slow
hours, you can bring personal entertainment along, and providing you're
constantly on stand-by and ready to jump to a situation and perform the minimum
requirement for your shift, your choices are boundless as to what you want to do
on a personal level rather than what the company requires of you. After every
Emergency situation occurs, there is always some personal fulfillment and the
gained experience is priceless. Simply being actively involved around people is
always rewarding no matter what the activity. A simple conversation, as pleasant
as it can be, is still doing your job; you are still being visual and a deterent
to people and able to offer them help if needed. Always a very important thing if
one day something serious happened, you might need to depend on this person. Or
if you were to treat this person for a first aid, a friendly association with
that person is greatly valued to both parties and once again, can be extremely
helpful.
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Downers
A third of the rostered month you are starting at very early
mornings (0600hrs is my morning shift). Remaining vigilant at
the 2200hrs - 0600hrs can be rather difficult as well. Sometimes
driving home can be safer done having a nap in the car
beforehand. And sleep deprivation is guaranteed during some
weeks. Working certain weekends can be a pain, but financially
much better.
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Lifestyle
As explained in the previous segment, being a 24 hour rotational roster can
wreak havoc on your lifestyle. Learning to adjust is the only way to enjoy it and
see it for the benefits that it has. My work hours are 8 hours during the
weekdays and 12 on any rostered weekend. There are many opportunities for
overtime which you can financially benefit, but some of them come unannounced at
the last moment and can disturb any plans you had for the rest of the day.
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Compensation
The base rate according to the State Award is $AU14.73 per hour.
Not much for what it is that we do on site. But incentives after
hours increase 20%, Saturdays 50% and Sundays 100% along with
most overtime you do. Holidays 150%. Being on a 24 hour
rotational roster, you get 5 weeks annual leave instead of the
normal 4 weeks for other industries.
If you accept overtime, then the financial benefits are quite
large, but you've got to put in the hours.
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Advice to Jobseekers
I would definately recommend the course to anyone, regardless of
whether you're interested in pursuing the career. It details law
and many other aspects that I think everyone in their country
should be made aware of. Industry advice is rather simple: there
are always company looking for security guards. Keep looking
until you find a company and job that suits you. They are many
and varied. Keep your training and what you've learnt under your
belt, because sometimes at the most unexpected times a situation
will occur and you can't afford to be thinking 'what am I
legally able to do?' And if you're on a 24 hour rotational
roster, then learn your roster as soon as possible, and make a
scheduler for yourself of when you can commit to other things in
your life, otherwise you'll find it very difficult to get things
done.
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