Summary
- A security guard’s main duties are to watch, deter, report and respond. Guards protect people and property by being seen and by acting fast when something goes wrong.
- Core security guard duties and responsibilities include patrols, access control, alarm response, incident reports, emergency response and customer service.
- Guards are not police. In Canada, a guard can arrest only under section 494 of the Criminal Code and must hand the person to police right away.
- In BC, licensed guards may not carry batons, pepper spray or tasers, and must record any use of force.
- Written post orders tell each guard exactly which duties apply at a site. Good post orders make the difference between a guard who watches and one who prevents.
Security guard duties are the tasks a licensed guard performs to protect people, property and information at a site. The main ones are patrolling, controlling who comes in, watching for risks, responding to alarms and emergencies, and writing clear reports. This guide is for property managers, business owners and new guards in British Columbia and Alberta. You will learn the core security guard responsibilities, how duties change by post, what the law says a guard cannot do, and how to write post orders that get results.
What Is the Role of a Security Guard?
The role of a security guard is to prevent loss and harm by watching, deterring and reporting. A guard protects a client’s people, property and assets during a set shift, following written instructions called post orders. A guard observes and reports first, and acts directly only when the law and the post orders allow.
In Canada, every security guard must hold a licence from the province where they work. In BC, the Security Programs Division issues it under the Security Services Act. In Alberta, Security Programs issues it under the Security Services and Investigators Act. The licence confirms the guard passed approved training and a criminal record check.
People use “security guard” and “security officer” to mean the same job. Some companies use “officer” for experienced staff or supervisors, but the licence is the same. In this guide, both terms mean a licensed security worker, so the duties and responsibilities of security officers are the same as the ones listed here.
What are the Main Security Guard Duties?
The main security guard duties are patrols, access control, monitoring, alarm and emergency response, reporting, and customer service. Most guards do all of these on a normal shift. The mix changes by site: a warehouse guard spends more time on patrols, and a lobby guard spends more time on access control.
1. Patrol the property
A patrol is a planned walk or drive around a site to check for problems. A guard on a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift might walk the same route every two hours, test each door and gate, and check fences, lights and parked vehicles. Many companies track each patrol with checkpoint scans, so the client can see it happened.
2. Control access
Access control means deciding who gets in and when. A guard checks ID, signs in visitors and contractors, issues passes and keeps doors that should be locked, locked. At a construction site, that can mean checking every truck at the gate against the day’s delivery list.
3. Watch cameras and alarm panels
Many posts include a desk with camera screens and an alarm panel. The guard watches for movement in closed areas, tailgating at doors and alarms from fire or intrusion systems. A guard who spots a problem on camera sends a patrol or calls for help instead of waiting.
4. Deter crime by being seen
A visible guard is often enough to stop theft, vandalism and trespassing before they start. Uniforms, marked vehicles, lights and a regular presence at entrances all send a clear message. Deterrence is quiet work, and on a good night nothing happens.
5. Respond to alarms and incidents
When an alarm sounds or someone reports a problem, the guard goes to check it safely. The guard confirms what is happening, calls police, fire or ambulance when needed, and keeps others away from the danger. Guards then stay to meet first responders and show them the way in.
6. Handle emergencies
Guards are often the first trained person on scene in a fire, flood, medical emergency or power failure. Their duties include pulling alarms, guiding people out, giving first aid if trained, and shutting down water or gas if the site plan allows. Knowing the exits and shut-off points before an emergency is part of the job.
7. Write clear reports
Reports are how a client knows what happened on a shift. A guard keeps a daily activity log and writes an incident report for anything unusual: who, what, when, where and what action was taken. A good report is factual, dated, timed and often backed with photos. Reports can later be used by police, insurers and courts.
8. Help people and give customer service
In lobbies, malls, hotels and hospitals, much of the job is helping people. Guards give directions, escort staff to their cars after dark, let locked-out tenants back in and calm upset visitors. Being polite and patient prevents many problems from growing.
9. Enforce site rules
Each site has its own rules, like no smoking near the loading bay, hard hats past the gate or no loitering in the parkade. A guard reminds people of the rules, asks them to comply or leave, and reports anyone who refuses. Trespass is handled under provincial trespass laws, not by force.
10. Keep the site safe for workers
Guards notice hazards that others walk past: a burnt-out light in a stairwell, a blocked fire exit, ice at the entrance, a leak in the parkade. Reporting these quickly reduces injuries and damage. On many sites, guards are the only people on-site overnight.
Security Guard Roles by Type of Post
Security guard roles change with the type of post. An on-site guard stays at one location, while a mobile patrol guard checks many sites in one shift. The table below shows the most common roles in BC and Alberta, the main duties of each, and where you will usually see them.
| Role | Main duties | Typical sites |
| On-site (static) guard | Access control, patrols, camera monitoring, reports | Offices, warehouses, construction sites |
| Mobile patrol guard | Drives between sites, checks locks and lights, logs each visit | Strata buildings, retail plazas, parkades |
| Alarm response guard | Attends alarms, checks the site, meets police or keyholders | Businesses with monitored alarms |
| Fire watch guard | Patrols a building when its fire alarm or sprinklers are down, keeps a fire watch log | Construction, restoration and older buildings |
| Concierge guard | Front desk, visitor sign-in, deliveries, tenant help | Residential towers, office lobbies |
| Loss prevention officer | Watches for theft, works with store staff, writes reports for police | Retail stores and malls |
| Event security guard | Crowd control, entry and bag checks, first response | Concerts, festivals, private events |
Choose an on-site guard when one site needs constant presence. Choose mobile patrol when several quieter sites need regular checks. Choose fire watch when a fire system is offline and your fire department or insurer requires patrols.
What Can’t a Security Guard Do in Canada?
A security guard in Canada has no more legal power than any other citizen, with one extra: guards act on behalf of the property owner. Guards cannot search people without consent, cannot hold someone without legal grounds, and cannot present themselves as police. Their main tools are observation, communication and reporting.
Arrest powers are limited
Section 494 of the Criminal Code lets any person arrest someone they find committing an indictable offence. It also lets a property owner, or a person the owner authorizes, arrest someone they find committing a criminal offence on or in relation to that property. The same section says the person making the arrest must hand the suspect to a peace officer right away. Most companies train guards to observe and report, and to arrest only as a last resort.
Equipment rules in BC
The Government of BC says licensed security workers may not carry a badge or wear a Sam Browne belt. They also may not carry items designed to injure or control people, such as tasers, pepper spray and batons. Guards must carry their valid licence while working. Any use of force, such as blocking a path or using handcuffs, must be recorded.
Rules in Alberta
In Alberta, guards must carry their original licence card while working. The Government of Alberta allows a guard to carry a baton only with employer approval and after an approved 40-hour baton use-of-force course, with recertification every 36 months.
A Security Guard’s Responsibilities Over One Night Shift
A security guard’s responsibilities follow a routine that repeats each shift. The sample below shows a typical 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on-site shift at a mid-size warehouse. Your site’s post orders will set the exact times and checks.
- 10:00 p.m. Shift handover. Read the log, get keys and radio, and hear open issues from the outgoing guard.
- 10:15 p.m. First full patrol. Check every door, gate, loading bay and fence line. Note anything unusual.
- 11:00 p.m. Lock-up checks. Confirm offices are empty, lights are set and alarms are armed.
- Every 2 hours. Repeat patrols. Scan each checkpoint and add photos of any issue.
- Between patrols. Monitor cameras. Watch the yard, docks and entrances on screen.
- As needed. Respond. Check alarms, deal with trespassers, and call police or fire when required.
- 5:30 a.m. Final patrol and report. Finish the daily activity report and any incident reports.
- 6:00 a.m. Handover. Brief the day guard or client on what happened overnight.
Checklist: What to Put in Your Security Post Orders
Post orders are the written instructions that tell a guard what to do at your site. Clear post orders turn general security guard duties into specific tasks your guard can follow and you can check. Use this checklist when you set up a new post or review an old one.
- Site address, hours of coverage and the name of your contact person
- Emergency numbers, including after-hours keyholders
- Patrol route, frequency and checkpoints
- Access rules: who may enter, when, and what ID they need
- Alarm panel instructions and camera locations
- Locations of exits, fire panels, water and gas shut-offs
- Site rules the guard should enforce (parking, smoking, hard hats)
- What to do with trespassers and when to call police
- How and when reports are sent to you
- Any tasks outside security (deliveries, tenant lockouts), listed clearly
How Imperial Security Guards Carry Out Their Duties
At Imperial Security, we have put licensed guards on sites across BC and Alberta since 1993. Every post starts with written post orders built with the client, so the guard knows exactly which duties matter most at that site.
Our guards log patrols with guard tour tracking, so each checkpoint scan is timed and stored. Clients get electronic PDF reports with photo evidence, and incidents are reported through our app as they happen. Our patrol vehicles use real-time GPS tracking and dash-cam verification.
Over 30 years and more than 120,000 alarm responses, one lesson stands out: most security guard duties are routine, and the routine is what prevents problems. If you want to know what makes a guard good at that routine, read our guide to the skills every security guard needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 3 main duties of a security guard?
The three main duties are to deter, detect and report. A guard deters crime by being visible, detects problems through patrols and monitoring, and reports what they see so the client, police or fire crews can act. Access control and emergency response support all three.
What is the difference between a security guard and a security officer?
There is no legal difference in BC or Alberta. Both terms describe a licensed security worker doing guard duties. Some companies use “officer” for senior staff or supervisors, and some clients prefer the word because it sounds more professional. The licence and the legal powers are the same.
Can a security guard touch you?
Only in limited cases. A guard may use reasonable force to make a lawful arrest under section 494 of the Criminal Code or to protect themselves or others. A guard may not push, grab or search you just for being on the property. In BC, any use of force must be recorded.
Can security guards check your bag?
Only with your consent, or as a condition of entry you agree to. At events and some workplaces, bag checks are part of the entry rules, and you can refuse and leave. A guard can’t force you to open your bag.
Do security guards have to carry their licence?
Yes. In BC, you must carry your valid physical licence whenever you do security work. In Alberta, you must carry your original licence card while working and give your employer a copy. Working without a valid licence breaks provincial law in both provinces.
What does a security guard do on a night shift?
A night guard patrols on a schedule, checks doors, gates and fences, monitors cameras and alarms, and responds to anything unusual. At the end of the shift, the guard writes a daily report and briefs the next person. On many sites, the night guard is the only person on the property.
Get Licensed Guards Who Know Their Duties
Security guard duties come down to watching, deterring, responding and reporting, all within the limits the law sets. The difference between an average guard and a great one is training, clear post orders and reports you can trust. If you need guards for a site in BC or Alberta, see our security guard services, request a quote or call 1-877-221-2333.
