PSIRA Security Officer Grade B Exam (South Africa)

What is the primary purpose of the Occurrence Book (OB) on a security site in South Africa?

• ATo record the shift rosters and payroll calculations for the guard force
• BTo document personal conversations and break times of officers on duty
• CTo maintain a chronological, legally binding record of all events, incidents, and supervi…
• DTo serve as a feedback register where clients can write daily suggestions

During a shift handover, which of the following is a mandatory action for both the outgoing and incoming supervisors?

• AConducting a joint physical inspection of the site, checking inventory, and co-signing th…
• BDrafting a new set of site standard operating procedures for the next month
• CLeaving the site immediately once the relief supervisor arrives on the property
• DVerifying that the client has paid the monthly security service invoice

If a security officer is caught sleeping on duty, what is the immediate correct action for a Grade B supervisor to take?

• ALet the officer sleep to avoid confrontation, but deduct hours from their timesheet later
• BRelieve the officer of duty, post a standby replacement, record the event in the OB, and…
• CImmediately fire the security officer on the spot and tell them to leave the premises
• DCall the client to explain that the guard is tired and ask for a temporary concession

What is the primary objective of a supervisor conducting a briefing parade before the start of a security shift?

• ATo collect weekly union dues and membership forms from the officers
• BTo inspect uniforms and equipment, verify physical fitness for duty, and communicate dail…
• CTo conduct formal classroom lectures on advanced counter-terrorism tactics
• DTo allow officers to vote on who will patrol the most favorable areas

Which specific South African Act regulates and governs the registration, conduct, and compliance of all private security providers?

• AThe Criminal Procedure Act (Act 51 of 1977)
• BThe Basic Conditions of Employment Act (Act 75 of 1997)
• CThe Private Security Industry Regulation Act (Act 56 of 2001)
• DThe Control of Access to Public Premises and Vehicles Act (Act 53 of 1985)

When preparing a weekly duty roster, what must a Grade B supervisor ensure to comply with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA)?

• AOfficers must work at least 60 ordinary hours per week before receiving overtime pay
• BOfficers receive the legally mandated daily and weekly rest periods and do not exceed max…
• CAll officers work night shifts continuously without rotating to day shifts
• DSecurity officers are scheduled to work 7 days a week with no rest days

What is the supervisor's immediate duty if an officer calls in sick one hour before their scheduled shift begins?

• AOrder the outgoing officer to work a double shift without pay
• BContact a standby officer from the reserve pool to cover the post and ensure continuous s…
• CLeave the post vacant and record in the OB that the guard failed to show up
• DTell the sick officer they must find their own replacement or face immediate dismissal

What does a Grade B supervisor's 'span of control' refer to in security operations?

• AThe physical distance a supervisor can travel in their patrol vehicle during one shift
• BThe geographical area covered by the security company's radio transmitter
• CThe maximum number of security officers a supervisor can effectively manage, direct, and…
• DThe duration of authority a supervisor has over a site before needing recertification

According to the PSIRA Code of Conduct, what must a supervisor do if a client instructs them to perform an illegal task, such as assaulting a suspected shoplifter?

• ARefuse the instruction, ensure the suspect is treated humanely, and report the event to s…
• BFollow the client's instructions immediately to keep the contract active and prevent canc…
• CDelegate the task to a junior officer to avoid personal liability
• DDemand a cash bribe from the client before executing the instruction

If a supervisor notices that a portion of the site's electric perimeter fence is damaged and offline, what is their correct sequence of actions?

• AWait for the client's maintenance team to discover it, then log it in the OB
• BIgnore it if there have been no recent intrusion alarms in that sector
• CLog the fault in the OB, deploy a static guard to secure the breach, and immediately noti…
• DSwitch off the remaining functional zones of the fence to save electricity

Why must a Grade B supervisor regularly sign and verify the pocketbook entries of the security officers under their command?

• ATo confirm that the officers are writing in their preferred language
• BTo ensure officers are documenting their activities correctly and to confirm supervisory…
• CTo check if the officers are using correct artistic styles in their drawings
• DTo calculate the exact number of pages used for stationery billing

In the South African private security industry, what is the legal requirement regarding the carrying of a PSIRA registration card?

• AIt must be locked in the company's head office safe for safekeeping
• BIt only needs to be carried when working in government buildings
• CEvery registered security officer must carry or wear their valid PSIRA card at all times…
• DIt is only required for armed guards, while unarmed guards do not need one

What is the primary role of a Grade B supervisor when handling a client complaint regarding a security officer's behavior?

• ADefend the officer unconditionally to protect the security company's reputation
• BListen objectively, document all details, investigate the incident, and report the findin…
• CApologize, promise to fire the officer immediately, and offer a discount on the security…
• DTell the client that minor behavioral issues are not covered under the contract

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) of South Africa, what is a security supervisor's duty regarding safety hazards on site?

• ATo ignore safety hazards unless they directly interfere with security patrols
• BTo identify hazards, ensure officers use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),…
• CTo personally repair all broken electrical and mechanical equipment on site
• DTo sign indemnity forms releasing the client from all liability for guard injuries

When issuing keys to a security officer, what procedure must the supervisor follow to ensure proper key control?

• AHand the keys over informally and rely on memory to track them
• BRecord the key number, issue time, and officer's name, and have the officer sign the Key…
• CThrow the keys into a common box at the guardhouse for anyone to access
• DMake duplicate copies of the keys for the officers to keep at home

What is the primary role of a Grade B supervisor in maintaining public relations on a commercial site?

• ATo act as a professional liaison, representing the client and the security firm with poli…
• BTo interrogate members of the public who look at the security office
• CTo promote and sell the security company's products to visitors for a commission
• DTo restrict the general public from entering public access areas to reduce patrol work

If a supervisor discovers that an officer has arrived on shift under the influence of alcohol, what is the correct action?

• ALet the officer work but keep them inside the guardhouse away from the public eye
• BGive the officer strong coffee, wait an hour, and then place them on patrol
• CRefuse entry to the site, arrange for a replacement, document the event in the OB, and in…
• DAllow them to work but warn them that they will be fired if they make a mistake

What is the purpose of a supervisor conducting a 'Post-Inspection' during their shift?

• ATo check if the officers are awake, alert, properly uniformed, and executing their post i…
• BTo deliver meals and collect personal mail for the security officers
• CTo clean the guardhouses and wash the officers' patrol vehicles
• DTo determine if the client has left any valuable items that can be borrowed

If a supervisor is forced to temporarily adjust guard positions due to a localized emergency on site, what must they do immediately?

• AKeep the changes secret to prevent causing panic among the client's staff
• BWait until the next weekly operational meeting to report the changes to management
• CInform the control room, record the adjustments in the OB, and notify the client's securi…
• DOrder the officers to refuse to work until standard operating conditions return

What is the correct way for a supervisor to correct an incorrect entry written in the Occurrence Book?

• AUse correction fluid (Tipp-Ex) to cover the mistake and write over it
• BTear out the page containing the error and rewrite it on a new page
• CDraw a single neat line through the error, write the correction above or next to it, and…
• DScribble over the error heavily with a black marker so it is completely illegible

What is the primary operational function of a security control room in a commercial environment?

• ATo serve as a storage area for spare uniforms and tactical equipment
• BTo act as the centralized communications, monitoring, and coordination hub for all securi…
• CTo provide a rest area where off-duty security officers can sleep
• DTo host public meetings and marketing displays for potential clients

When using a two-way radio, what does the procedure word 'Over' communicate to the receiver?

• AI have finished my entire transmission and am cutting off the radio power
• BI have finished speaking and am waiting for your response
• CI am experiencing a technical radio interference on my channel
• DI am calling for immediate emergency backup at my location

Which of the following correct phonetic alphabet words must be used to represent the letter 'S' in radio communication?

• ASugar
• BSampson
• CSierra
• DSouth

If a panic alarm signal is received in the control room from a client's site, what is the operator's first duty?

• ACall the client to ask if they accidentally pressed the button
• BDispatch the nearest armed response vehicle immediately, and then attempt to contact the…
• CWait for 10 minutes to see if any secondary alarms are triggered before responding
• DReport the panic alarm to the client's local police station as a cold incident

What does the radio procedure word 'Roger' communicate in professional security radio transmissions?

• AI agree with your opinion on this matter
• BI have received and understood your message
• CI am repeating your message exactly as spoken
• DI am canceling the previous instruction

When dispatching a tactical armed response team to a crime in progress, what is the critical minimum information the dispatcher must provide?

• AThe contract price of the client's security package and their payment history
• BThe name of the security guard's trade union and their registration status
• CThe exact address/location, nature of the incident, suspect descriptions, and potential h…
• DA complete list of the client's employee names and their home phone numbers

Which of the following secure registers is used in the control room to document all radio calls, signals, and messages in chronological order?

• AThe Key Control Register
• BThe Radio Log Book (or Communications Log)
• CThe Duty Roster Book
• DThe Disciplinary Action Log

If the control room experiences a sudden main power failure, what is the correct technical setup to ensure continuous monitoring services?

• AShut down all systems and wait for grid power to return from the local municipality
• BRun the systems using a temporary extension cord from a neighboring building
• CAn Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for immediate backup, followed by an automatic back…
• DInstruct guards to monitor client premises manually using their mobile phones

What is the recommended minimum retention period for CCTV surveillance footage in a professional security control room under standard evidence guidelines?

• A24 hours, after which all footage must be permanently deleted
• BAt least 30 days, to ensure footage is available for investigation and prosecution of cri…
• C1 year, which must be stored on physical VHS tapes in the control room
• DOnly until the end of the shift, unless a guard reports seeing something suspicious

What is the standard national telephone number to contact the South African Police Service (SAPS) emergency call centre?

• A10111
• B10177
• C112
• D911

If a control room operator receives a phone call containing a bomb threat, what is the most important action they should take during the call?

• AHang up immediately to prevent the caller from tracing the control room's location
• BKeep the caller talking, gather as much detail about the bomb and location as possible, a…
• CArgue with the caller and tell them that their threat is being recorded by the police
• DTransfer the call to the client's receptionist to handle

How should a control room supervisor verify whether a received fire alarm signal is a false alarm or an active emergency?

• AAssume it is a false alarm due to dust and cancel the signal immediately
• BImmediately dispatch an on-site security officer to physically inspect the exact zone, wh…
• CCall the municipal fire department and tell them to deploy fire engines immediately witho…
• DWait for the client's employees to run out of the building before taking any action

Why should radio transmissions be kept short, concise, and structured with standard procedure words?

• ATo save the battery life of the control room's main base station transmitter
• BTo prevent radio channel congestion and ensure emergency messages can be transmitted with…
• CBecause two-way radios have a strict daily limit on the number of words transmitted
• DTo prevent officers from developing close social relationships over the air

What does an 'AC Fail' alert received on a client's alarm monitoring panel indicate to the control room operator?

• AThe client's air conditioning system has broken down and needs repair
• BThe alarm panel has lost its main municipal electrical power supply and is running on bac…
• CThe security officers on site have failed to log in using their access cards
• DThe telephone line communication link to the control room has been cut

What is the definition and purpose of a 'duress code' in control room access security?

• AA code used to reset the system after a false alarm has occurred
• BA silent code entered by an operator to open a door while secretly alerting security that…
• CThe master code used by the technician to perform weekly hardware maintenance
• DA code used to encrypt radio transmissions to prevent eavesdropping by competitors

Who is authorized to enter a secure security control room?

• AAny employee of the client's company who wants to view the CCTV monitors
• BOnly authorized control room operators, designated security managers, and maintenance tec…
• CFamily members of the operators who want to deliver food or visit
• DAny security officer on site who needs a break from patrolling

What must a control room operator do if a security officer on a remote site fails to perform their hourly scheduled radio check-in?

• AWait until the end of the shift to see if the officer reports in person
• BAssume the officer has fallen asleep and ignore the check-in failure to avoid generating…
• CAttempt to contact the officer on multiple channels; if unsuccessful, immediately dispatc…
• DLog the officer as absent and deduct their pay for that hour without verifying their stat…

What is the primary purpose of an electronic guard patrol monitoring system managed by the control room?

• ATo record the voices of guards to ensure they are speaking politely
• BTo track the real-time location and progress of security officers during their patrol rou…
• CTo automatically calculate the distance traveled for guard boot allowance payouts
• DTo stream entertainment music to guards' hand-held patrol devices

In a security control room, what is the specific purpose of the Incident Log Register?

• ATo record all daily shift roster changes and leave requests
• BTo document critical security breaches, response dispatch times, actions taken, and final…
• CTo store contact details of local restaurants for control room meal orders
• DTo keep a record of all technical manuals for security hardware

If a control room operator observes a CCTV feed showing a suspicious individual loitering near a high-value warehouse perimeter, what should they do?

• AKeep watching the feed for a few hours without notifying anyone to see what happens
• BDispatch the nearest on-site patrol officer to investigate and verify the individual's pr…
• CSwitch off the camera feed to avoid seeing any potential crimes
• DImmediately call for a national police helicopter response

What is the first and highest priority of a security supervisor when arriving at the scene of a major security incident?

• ATo search the area for any discarded property to return to the client
• BTo ensure the physical safety of all persons at the scene and render medical first aid if…
• CTo draft the final incident report on their laptop immediately
• DTo contact local news reporters to publicize the security company's quick response

How must a security supervisor preserve a crime scene, such as a burgled office, before the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrives?

• AClean the office, throw away broken glass, and tidy up the desks to assist the client
• BSearch the office thoroughly for fingerprints and place all items back in their original…
• CCordon off the area, forbid anyone from entering or touching anything, and log all person…
• DAllow the client's staff to enter and check if any of their personal items are missing

Under Section 42 of the Criminal Procedure Act (Act 51 of 1977) of South Africa, what power of arrest does a private security officer possess?

• AThe power to arrest any person on public property for minor traffic violations
• BThe power to arrest without a warrant any person who commits a Schedule 1 offense in thei…
• CThe power to detain any person indefinitely without handing them over to the police
• DThe power to arrest any person who refuses to show their identity document in a public st…

When writing a formal security incident report, what are the six basic questions the supervisor must address in the narrative?

• AWho, What, Where, When, Why, and How
• BName, Grade, PSIRA Number, Salary, Union, and Shift
• CClient, Contract Value, Deductibles, Expenses, Invoices, and Profits
• DHardware, Software, Radio Channel, Battery Life, Vehicle Model, and Fuel Level

Why is it critical for a supervisor to obtain written, signed statements from witnesses immediately following an incident?

• ATo ensure the witnesses cannot change their minds about paying the security company
• BBecause witness memories fade and distort quickly, and immediate statements preserve accu…
• CTo submit the statements to the marketing department for promotional use
• DTo verify that the witnesses possess good handwriting and spelling skills

What is the correct protocol when handing over an arrested suspect to the South African Police Service (SAPS)?

• ALeave the suspect at the police station reception desk and depart immediately to resume p…
• BFormally hand over the suspect, provide a detailed statement of arrest, hand over any sei…
• CDemand that the police officer pay a transfer fee before taking custody of the suspect
• DForce the suspect to sign a confession form before handing them to the police

If a supervisor is managing an evacuation during an active fire incident, what is their primary operational role at the assembly point?

• ATo inspect the uniforms of the security officers who assisted in the evacuation
• BTo ensure all evacuees remain at the assembly point, coordinate roll calls, and prevent a…
• CTo personally begin extinguishing the fire inside the building with a hand-held extinguis…
• DTo negotiate with the client about emergency overtime rates for the shift

What legislation must a security supervisor consider when handling and storing incident reports containing suspects' personal details, such as ID numbers and photographs?

• AThe National Road Traffic Act (Act 93 of 1996)
• BThe Protection of Personal Information Act (Act 4 of 2013 - POPIA)
• CThe Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act 28 of 2002)
• DThe Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act (Act 12 of 1999)