Alberta ABST Cheat Sheet

Introduction to the Security Industry

Not published of exam
SSIA & Licence Types Eligibility & Checks Training vs Temporary Licence Complaints Process

Canadian Legal System & Security Professionals

Not published of exam
Citizen's Arrest — s.494 Use-of-Force Sections Trespass Acts Compared Charter Rights & Complaints

Basic Security Procedures

Not published of exam
Patrol, Access & Key Control Use-of-Force Factors Post Orders Cap Authority Consent Search Limits

Communication for Security Professionals

Not published of exam
LEAPS De-escalation Communication Practices Radio Discipline Bias-Free Standard

Documentation and Evidence

Not published of exam
Notebook Discipline Evidence & Privacy Law Chain of Custody PIPA Confidentiality

Emergency Response Procedures

Not published of exam
Fire Response & PASS Bomb & Medical Response Evacuation & Violence Alarm Response

Health and Safety

Not published of exam
WHMIS & PPE OHS Rights & Duties Safe Lifting Fatigue Risk

Quick Facts

Exam ABST Licensing Exam
Credential Security Service Worker Licence
Pass Mark 80%
Time Limit Not published by Alberta
Modules 7; weights not published
Course 40-hour ABST course
Licence Fee $100; valid 2 years
Rewrite Window 2 years from course start

Training vs Temporary Licence IN

Training licence

Valid only 30 days
Not portable between employers
For enrolled trainees only

Temporary licence

Valid 60 days
Issued at a registry agent
Bridges to the mailed card
Trainee vs applicant

SSIA & Licence Types IN

SSIA Security Services and Investigators Act
Security Programs Licenses and regulates workers
Registrar Reviews complaints, suspends licences
Standard licence $100; valid 2 years
Dual licence $160 security + investigator
Training licence 30 days; not portable
Temporary licence 60 days; bridges to mailed card
Registry service charge $9 if filed in person

Eligibility & Checks IN

Minimum age 18 years or older
Work eligibility Eligible to work in Canada
English standard CLB Level 5 fluency
Criminal record Must have none
Criminal record check Mandatory police records search
Vulnerable sector search Mandatory, screens vulnerable-persons offences
Record checks Expire 90 days after issue

Force Ladder LE

Presence → Verbal → Soft Control → Force
Presence: deter just by being there Verbal: try LEAPS first Soft control: minimum physical contact Force: always the last resort

Petty Trespass vs Premises Act LE

Petty Trespass Act

Open land, fields, lawns
Apprehend → before judge/JP
Fines $2,000 / $5,000

Trespass to Premises Act

Buildings and structures only
Apprehend → deliver officer ASAP
Fines up to $200,000
Land vs building

Force Authority Picker LE

Witnessed an indictable offence → s.494(1)(a) citizen's arrest ( Must witness the act )
Offence on owner's property → s.494(2) property arrest ( Immediate or reasonable delay )
Force needed to arrest → s.25(1) necessary force ( Only as much as needed )
Suspect flees lawful arrest → Peace officer force only ( Strict s.25(4) conditions apply )
Must stop a serious offence → s.27 preventive force ( Before the offence happens )
Threatened with force → s.34 self-defence test ( Response must be reasonable )
Property being taken or entered → s.35 defence of property ( Response must be reasonable )

Citizen's Arrest — s.494 LE

s.494(1)(a) Witnessed indictable offence, any person
s.494(2) Owner, authorized person, property offence
"Finds committing" Must witness the act itself
2012 amendment Allows reasonable-time-after arrest
s.494(3) Deliver arrestee to police forthwith
Offence scope Indictable; owner arrests: any criminal

SSIA Complaint Clock LE

File 90 → Investigate 90 → Review 30
90 days: file with employer 90 days: employer investigates fully 30 days: request Registrar review

Citizen's vs Peace-Officer Arrest LE

Citizen's arrest (s.494)

Any person may arrest
Must deliver forthwith to police
No lethal flight power

Peace-officer arrest (s.25)

Extra force to stop flight
Can pursue a fleeing suspect
Backed by statutory authority
Limited vs full powers

Trespass Response Picker LE

Trespass on open land → Petty Trespass Act ( Apprehend, then before judge/JP )
Trespass in a building → Trespass to Premises Act ( Deliver to officer ASAP )
Person refuses to leave → Treat as a trespasser ( Not a use-of-force issue )
Bag or person search refused → Deny entry only ( Cannot seize items or force )
Need to prove notice given → Oral, written, or posted signs ( Signs at every entrance )

Use-of-Force Sections LE

s.25(1) Force justified if necessary
s.25(3) Lethal force needs death/GBH risk
s.26 Excessive force stays criminal
s.27 Prevents offence before it happens
s.34 Self-defence; reasonable response test
s.35 Defence of property; reasonable test
s.25(4)/(5) Peace officers only; lethal flight

s.25 Force vs s.27 Prevention LE

s.25 (during arrest)

Justifies necessary force
Lethal force narrowly limited

s.27 (before offence)

Stops injury-causing acts early
No arrest required first
During vs before

Trespass Acts Compared LE

Petty Trespass Act Covers open land, fields
Premises Act Covers buildings and structures
PTA apprehension Take before judge or JP
Premises Act apprehension Deliver to officer ASAP
PTA notice Oral, written, or posted signs
Premises Act notice Oral, written, or entrance signs
PTA fines Max $2,000; $5,000 repeat
Premises Act fines Max $10k; $25k repeat; $200k corp

Charter Rights & Complaints LE

Charter s.7 Life, liberty, security of person
Charter s.8 No unreasonable search or seizure
Charter s.9 No arbitrary detention
Charter s.10 Right to counsel without delay
R v Lerke Citizen's arrest binds the Charter
SSIA s.24 Complaint to employer, 90 days
SSIA s.25 Employer investigates within 90 days
SSIA s.26 Registrar review within 30 days

Patrol, Access & Key Control PR

Patrol pattern Vary route and timing
Access control Match photo ID to face
Consent search Person may refuse any time
Refused entry Deny entry, not force
Post orders Can restrict below legal limit
Key control Logged keys create audit trail
Alarm activation Assume genuine; always respond

LEAPS Model CO

Listen → Empathize → Ask → Paraphrase → Summarize
Listen: give full attention Empathize: show you understand Ask: open-ended questions Paraphrase: reflect their words back Summarize: confirm what's agreed

LEAPS vs Use of Force CO

LEAPS de-escalation

Verbal, used first
Lowers emotional tension

Use of force

Physical, last resort
Used only if LEAPS fails
Talk first, force last

LEAPS & Communication CO

L Listen fully
E Empathize with the person
A Ask open questions
P Paraphrase what you heard
S Summarize to confirm
Bias-free duty Treat everyone consistently
Radio discipline Brief, clear, confirmed traffic
Guard's role Often the client's public face

Notebook vs Incident Report DO

Notebook

Personal and chronological
Written in the moment
Refreshes memory in court

Incident report

Formal written summary
Submitted after the incident
For employer or client
Personal vs formal

Notebook, Evidence & Privacy DO

Note timing Write notes immediately after
Objective entry Describes only what was observed
Subjective entry States a conclusion; avoid it
Correcting notes Single line through, then initial
Notebook vs report Personal log vs formal summary
Notes in court Refresh memory, not replace testimony
Chain of custody Who held evidence, when
PIPA Alberta's private-sector privacy law

PASS Extinguisher EM

Pull → Aim → Squeeze → Sweep
Pull: release the pin Aim: at the base Squeeze: the handle lever Sweep: side to side

Emergency Response Picker EM

Fire is discovered → Activate the alarm first ( Then clear and close doors )
Fire is small and contained → PASS extinguisher technique ( Only with a clear escape )
Bomb threat call received → Checklist, then alert supervisor ( Don't decide to search alone )
Medical emergency occurs → Check scene safety, then EMS ( First aid within training only )
Evacuation is needed → Confirmed nearest exit ( Walk quickly; never run )
Active threat or violence → Alert, secure, avoid contact ( Call police immediately )

Fire Response & PASS EM

Fire discovered Activate the alarm first
Clear area Evacuate, close doors and windows
Fight fire? Only if small, with escape
P Pull the pin
A Aim at the base
S (squeeze) Squeeze the handle
S (sweep) Sweep side to side
Rating label Check class before using

Fire Classes EM

A Wood, B Liquid, C Electrical, D Metal, K Kitchen
A: ordinary combustibles like wood B: flammable liquids and gases C: energized electrical equipment D: combustible metals K: commercial kitchen oils

Bomb & Medical Response EM

Bomb threat call Use the checklist; capture wording
Call details Don't discuss with others
Search decision Supervisor or police decide, not you
Medical scene Check safety before approaching
First aid Give only what you're trained for

Evacuation & Violence Response EM

Evacuation route Use nearest confirmed-safe exit
Evacuation pace Move quickly; never run
Last person out Close doors; do not lock
Mobility needs Arrange help for anyone needing it
Active threat Alert others, move to safety
Violence response Avoid confrontation; call police

PPE vs Procedure HE

PPE

Reduces known-hazard risk
Gloves, hi-vis, eye protection

Procedure

The actual safety step
PPE supports it; doesn't replace it
Gear vs steps

WHMIS & PPE HE

WHMIS Hazard labels and SDS sheets
PPE role Reduces known-hazard risk only
PPE limit Doesn't replace the real procedure
Space assessment Check from the doorway first

OHS Rights & Duties HE

Safe lifting Bend knees, keep load close
Fatigue risk Shift work slows reaction time
Report injuries Report promptly, even near-misses
Right to refuse Refuse work with undue hazard
Refusal limits Can't endanger others; no discipline

Common Traps

Petty Trespass vs Premises Act

Land → apprehend before judge/JP ≠ Building → deliver to officer

Citizen's Arrest Is Not Custody

Guard arrests, then delivers forthwith ≠ Only police hold true custody

Finds Committing Means Witnessed

s.494 needs direct witnessing ≠ A report alone isn't enough

Consent Search Isn't a Legal Power

Person may refuse at any time ≠ Guard's only remedy is deny entry

PPE Doesn't Replace the Procedure

PPE reduces known-hazard risk only ≠ The real safety step is procedure

Training Licence Isn't Temporary Licence

Training: 30 days, for trainees ≠ Temporary: 60 days, for applicants

Notebook Notes Don't Replace Testimony

Notes refresh memory in court ≠ Live testimony is still required

Last Minute

1. Pass mark is 80% exactly.
2. 7 ABST modules; weights not published.
3. Citizen's arrest: deliver forthwith to police.
4. Petty Trespass Act covers open land.
5. Premises Act: deliver trespasser to officer.
6. Try LEAPS before using any force.
7. Licence fee $100; valid two years.
8. Rewrite exam anytime within two years.
9. PASS = pull, aim, squeeze, sweep.
10. Workers may refuse unsafe work tasks.
11. Carry your original licence while working.
12. Baton requires 40-hr course and recert.

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