Site instructions should convert a general security role into clear, authorized duties for one property.
At a glance
- Useful instructions identify access rules, patrol areas, emergency procedures, contacts and handover requirements.
- Instructions should distinguish routine duties from situations that require escalation or emergency services.
- Reporting expectations should define what must be documented and how.
Use this as a planning checklist
A checklist is useful only when the answers become part of the actual assignment. Record the approved process, identify who can change it and make sure the people providing coverage can access the current version.
Questions to confirm
- What does the guard check, and how often?
- What is outside the guard’s authority or assignment?
- Who approves changes to the instructions?
Picture this at your property
Two buildings owned by the same client have different doors, tenants and emergency contacts. Separate site instructions are more reliable than one generic document used everywhere.
The value of the example is the decision process: identify what is known, what remains uncertain, who has authority, and what information should be preserved for follow-up.
Practical takeaway
Use the questions above before coverage starts or when the current process is being reviewed. If an answer is unclear, make the responsibility explicit in the site instructions rather than leaving it to individual interpretation.
Official sources & verification
1. Section 3: Basic security procedures — Government of Ontario
2. Section 6: Emergency response preparation — Government of Ontario
3. Section 4: Report writing — Government of Ontario
Last reviewed: 2026-08-08. This resource is general information for security planning and service discussions. It is not a guarantee that crime, loss, injury or other incidents will be prevented, and it does not replace a site-specific assessment, client instructions, emergency plans, regulator requirements, insurer requirements or legal advice.