Gate guard

Gate guards control the access and exit to buildings, warehouses or other type of property to prevent unauthorized presence and unwanted incidents. They prevent and identify theft of corporate property, investigate suspicious activities and write reports. Gate guards may assist employees or visitors with requests or indications. They use handheld radio stations to communicate and operate alarm systems and computers.

Gate guards typically do the following:

• Opens gate to allow entrance or exit of employees, truckers, and authorized visitors.
• Checks credentials or approved roster before admitting anyone.
• Issues passes at own discretion or on instructions from superiors.
• Directs visitors and truckers to various parts of grounds or buildings.
• Inspects outgoing traffic to prevent unauthorized removal of company property or products.
• May record number of trucks or other carriers entering and leaving.
• May perform maintenance duties, such as mowing lawns and sweeping gate areas.
• May require permits from employees for tools or materials taken from premises.
• May supervise use of time clocks for recording arrival and departure of employees.
• May answer telephone and transfer calls when switchboard is closed.

The following job titles also refer to gate guard:

gatewoman
gateman
plant gatekeeper
gate keeper
security entrance attendant
security gate attendant
gate attendant

A high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum required to work as a gate guard. In some cases, employers may ask prospective gate guards possess some combat training, especially if they are required to work in an area that is prone to violence.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Gate guard is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to gate guard.

door supervisor
security guard supervisor
security guard
bodyguard
crowd controller

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of gate guard. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of gate guard with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

hand luggage inspector
store detective
court bailiff
immigration officer
lifeguard instructor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of gate guard.

• Check methods: Procedures used for investigative purposes such as surveillance by physical and electronic means, interrogations of witnesses, collection of objects and data for assessment and analysis and physical and electronic research for collecting data.
• Security threats: Types of threats to public and private security such as unauthorised entry, aggressive behaviour, molestation, robbery, theft, assault, kidnapping, murder and public demonstration.
• Illegal substances: The forbidden substances which cannot be transported from one area to another, or carried by an individual, as well as their nature and how to handle them.

These skills are necessary for the role of gate guard.

• Monitor guest access: Oversee guests access, ensuring that guest needs are addressed and security is maintained at all times.
• Operate control panels: Use control panels to steer mechanisms, like automatic gates or machines.
• Maintain incident reporting records: Keep a system to record details of unusual events that occur at the facility, such as job-related injuries.
• Ensure public safety and security: Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.
• Work in shifts: Work in rotating shifts, where the goal is to keep a service or production line running around the clock and each day of the week.
• Manage major incidents: Take immediate action to respond to major incidents that affect the safety and security of individuals in private or public places such as road accidents.
• Check official documents: Check an individuals’ official documentation, such as driver’s licenses and identification, to ensure compliance with legal regulations, and to identify and assess individuals.
• Identify security threats: Identify security threats during investigations, inspections, or patrols, and perform the necessary actions to minimise or neutralise the threat.
• Perform security checks: Monitor and check individuals’ bags or personal items in order to make sure the individuals present no threats and that their behaviour is legally compliant.
• Manage theft prevention: Apply theft and robbery prevention; monitor security surveillance equipment; enforce security procedures if needed.
• Practice vigilance: Practice vigilance during patrol or other surveillance activities in order to ensure safety and security, to look out for suspicious behaviour or other alarming changes in patterns or activities, and to respond quickly to these changes.
• Conduct security screenings: Monitor human flow through the screening checkpoint and facilitate the orderly and efficient processing of people; inspect luggage and handbags following screening procedures.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of gate guard. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Operate radio equipment: Set up and operate radio devices and accessories, such as broadcast consoles, amplifiers, and microphones. Understand the basics of radio operator language and, when necessary, provide instruction in handling radio equipment correctly.
• Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
• Monitor parking areas to maintain security: Monitor the entry and exit routes within the parking areas and report on any hazards, accidents or violations.
• Perform body searches: Examine visitors by performing a body search, in order to detect weapons or illegal substances.
• React calmly in stressful situations: React quickly, calmly, and safely to unexpected situations. Provide a solution that solves the problem or diminishes its impact.
• Comply with the principles of self-defence: Observe the principles according to which a person should only use so much force as is required to repel an attack. The use of deadly force is limited to situations where attackers are using deadly force themselves.
• Maintain facility security systems: Ensure that proper and functional security systems are in place, including alarm systems, fire alarms, sprinklers and emergency exits.
• Monitor surveillance equipment: Monitor the operation of equipment used in surveillance and gathering of intelligence to ensure it functions properly and to gather the surveillance information detected by it.
• Identify terrorism threats: Identify the possibility of terrorism activities posing threats and danger in a specific area by monitoring activities of potentially dangerous groups of people, assessing risks in different areas, and gathering intelligence.
• Provide directions to guests: Show guests the way through buildings or on domains, to their seats or performance setting, helping them with any additional information so that they can reach the foreseen event destination.
• Handle surveillance equipment: Monitor surveillance equipment to observe what people are doing in a given area and ensure their safety.
• Register information on arrivals and departures: Write down information about visitors, patrons or employees, such as identity, the company they represent and time of arrival or departure.
• Detain offenders: Keep back offenders and trespassers in a certain area.
• Communicate by telephone: Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.
• Liaise with security authorities: Respond quickly to security incidents and violations by calling the police and keep in touch with other relevant parties involved in the potential prosecution of the offender.
• Deal with aggressive behaviour: Respond promptly to adverse behaviour in a professional manner by taking appropriate and legal action to prevent further aggressiveness, such as verbal warning, lawful removal from the premises or apprehension of the person involved. Report details of adverse behaviour in line with the organisation’s procedures.

5414 – Security guards

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References

1. Gate guard – ESCO
2. Featured image: Photo by Redd F on Unsplash