The following is a glossary of all the popular terms that security officers often use.

access routes: the ways in and out of a building or site

activated: caused to operate, start working, set off

to adjust to: to get used to, to make the best of things

anxious: uneasy, nervous

to arm: to set, to turn on

to assess: to evaluate, to judge

to assume: to believe something to be true without knowing all of the facts

attitude: way of thinking about things

authority: the legal power to control, give orders and make others obey, or a person who has this power

authorized: allowed, permitted

barricade: physical barrier

to challenge: to disobey or resist doing what someone wants

client: the owner or landlord at the place where you are working

combustible: able to catch fire and burn easily

combustion: the process of burning

communication: the sharing of thoughts, ideas, feelings between people

complaint: a formal statement about a problem

comply: to agree to, to go along with

component: part

compulsory: necessary

conduct: the way you act, how you behave

confidential: private

conscious: awake and able to understand what is happening around you

consequences: results

coordinate: work well together

data: facts or information

detailed: complete, includes all the important information

to detect: to notice, to become aware of

to deter: to prevent or discourage

deterrent: something that prevents or discourages someone from doing something that they should not do

to detonate: to cause to explode

device: something that has been made for a special purpose

to disarm: to turn off

discipline: action taken against someone who, it is believed, has done something wrong

discriminate: to treat differently, usually in a negative way

to disrupt: to confuse or upset

to distract: to break someone’s attention away from something

to enforce: to make sure that a rule or regulation is followed

to escalate: to take to a higher level, to make worse

to escort: to go with, to guide perhaps by the arm

escorting: going with someone to protect them

to evacuate: to empty

to evaluate: to assess, to make a judgment

evidence: anything that proves something or gives a reason for believing something

to extinguish: to put out

extinguisher: a device that is used for putting out fires

flammable: burns quickly and easily, or likely to burst into flames and to burn very quickly

flare: an object that produces a bright light and is used as a signal

frustrated: not satisfied because you are unable to get what you want

gear: equipment for an activity, including clothing

gesture: movement of the hands or head to show an idea or feeling

guidance: advice or information for solving a problem or difficulty

guidelines: suggestions to help someone carry out actions

hazard: danger

hazardous: dangerous

hoax, prank: trick or joke

hydrant: a pipe for water with a place where a hose can be attached

identification: proof of who a person is

to ignite: to start on fire

illegal: against the law

incident: unusual event or happening

infrared: heat rays that create a beam that can’t be seen by the human eye

to install: to put in

interaction: a meeting between people when they communicate with each other

intruder: someone who has entered an area that they are not supposed to be in

involvement: participation

to inspect: to look at carefully

issues: things people are worried about

to interact: to say or do things with another person or persons

justified: acting within the law

mechanical: having moving parts such as in a machine

to minimize: to make less, to take to the lowest level

MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet

neutral: showing no emotion, not taking either side in a disagreement (fight, protest, labour dispute)no matter what your feelings are or who seems to be right

obstacles: things in the way

occupants: the people inside a car, building, etc.

on behalf of: in the interests of, representing

pedestrian: a person who is walking

perimeter: outside edge of an area

to prearrange: to set in place before

predictable: routine, able to know in advance

procedures: ways of doing things

proximity: nearness, how close something is

public relations: how to get along with the public and how you want the public to see you or the organization that you represent

reflective: sending back. Clothing or tape that reflects light helps you to be seen especially at night

regulation: rule

to repel: to push away, to hold off

representative (rep): someone who speaks for others or who brings their concerns / feedback to others

to reset: to set again, to arm again

residue: small amount that is left

responsibilities: duties

responsibility: something that you must do, watch over or take care of

responsible: in charge and likely to take the blame if anything goes wrong

to restrain: to physically control or confine

restraint: control, self-discipline

restricted: limited to only certain people, not for the general public

secure: tightly closed and locked

to secure: to stop people from entering or leaving a site

seizure: the taking away of something from someone

shop steward: a union member who helps others with problems

silhouette: outline

site: the place where you are guarding

slang: very informal language that not everyone understands

stance: how you stand and hold your body

supportive: helpful

surveillance camera: camera that is used to keep watch over an area for intruders or shoplifters

suspicious: strange looking or out of place, guilty looking

testimony: formal statement in court

threat: a chance or promise that something bad is going to happen

to threaten: to say that you will hurt someone

threatening: causing fear, making someone uncomfortable

typical: common, similar to a group

unconscious: not conscious, as if in a very deep sleep

valve: a device that’s used for controlling the flow of air, liquid or gas

vapours: wet gasses, such as steam, that are coming off of a liquid

vibration: rapid shaking movement

visibility: the ease with which one can see things over a distance. This may be affected by light or weather.

waybill: a paper with the details of a shipment, including sender, receiver, and details of the goods being shipped

WHMIS: Workplace Hazard Material Information System. WHMIS uses special symbols to identify containers of hazardous material