Patrols and guards industrial and commercial properties, railway yards, stations and other facilities.

Patrols areas and keeps watch for people acting suspiciously; watches for irregularities such as broken water-pipes and fire hazards and takes action to prevent fire, accidental loss or criminal activity; may make arrests where authorised by law; conveys, or guards messengers conveying, valuables to and from banks or other establishments; may sweep floors and supervise heating plants.

• Employees work both indoors and outdoors depending upon the requirements of the worksite. Some employees work in watch-houses and control rooms and monitor electronic feeds of the area under surveillance.
• Employees carry out regular patrols, and walk and/or drive around the premises and perimeter in order to ensure that there are no breaches of security.
• Indoor work spaces and vehicles are generally adequately heated and ventilated. Employees may be required to work outside in all weather conditions.
• Employees may deal with dangerous situations arising out of breaches of security at the facility being monitored.
• Employees may deal with some difficult or aggressive people in carrying out duties and could at times face stressful and personally hazardous situations.

• Light to occasionally heavy physical demand level. Heavy lifting, pulling or carrying may be required on an occasional basis if physical restraint is required to deal with an intruder or incident.
• Employees frequently sit in vehicles. Employees regularly walk, stand, run and undertake any necessary physical actions required to restrain offenders who are breaching security.
• Employees may occasionally stretch and reach and twist the body or neck. Squatting or crouching is not a significant component of this job. Bending may be required.
• Contact with skin irritants or water is not a significant feature of this job.
• Repetitive movements are not necessary unless data entry via a computer is required.
• May be required to drive vehicles occasionally to frequently.
• Employees will use a range of electronic communication and basic security equipment.
• Mental skills include communication, organisation and self-defence skills.

• A Certificate of Approval issued through the Ministry of Justice is required for this role. To get a certificate, applicants need to complete Certificate of Approval (COA) training otherwise known as mandatory training; pass a police background check and a public notification which lets members of the public make comments; apply for the certificate and pay a fee.
• To hold a COA, the Ministry of Justice and the PSPLA (Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority) require security guards to undertake mandatory training consisting of the following unit standards: 27360 – Conflict Management (Theory); 27361 – Conflict Management (Practical); and 27364 – Introduction to the Security Industry
• Regardless of where you work, or who you work for, all guards holding a COA with the following endorsements must complete the programme: Crowd Controller; Personal Guard; and Property Guard – Security Officer.
• The government regulations do not allow for any exemptions for the Conflict Management unit standards (27360, 27361), but if you have completed the National Certificate in Security (Level 2, 3 or 4) after 2009, then you may be exempt from unit standard 27364.

• There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.
• Shift work is a frequent requirement.