Alberta Security Guard (ABST) Practice Test 5

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1. A worker reasonably believes a task presents an undue hazard. What does the provincial guidance say to do?

   1. Remain silent so the employer can infer the reason later.
   2. Complete the task first, then report only if an injury occurs.
   3. Ask an untrained colleague to take the same exposure immediately.
   4. Do not do the work; report the refusal and reasons promptly.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: Do not do the work; report the refusal and reasons promptly.

   The worker should not perform the dangerous work and must promptly report what is being refused and why. As far as possible, the refusal should not endanger others.

   Based on: Alberta OHS — Refuse dangerous work, worker obligations; source checked 2026-10-24

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2. What is the control system’s role in the basic alarm process?

   1. Prove that a reset has removed the underlying hazard.
   2. Determine every person’s legal responsibility for the incident.
   3. Guarantee that responders have already reached the site.
   4. Process received information and initiate the configured response.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: Process received information and initiate the configured response.

   The control system processes alarm information and initiates its configured response. The actual response arrangements still need to be understood; a panel indication is not proof of responder arrival or hazard removal.

   Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 6, Control Panels; source checked 2026-10-24

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3. Fatigue is affecting a guard’s ability to patrol safely. What is the appropriate first workplace response?

   1. Assume a quiet site makes fatigue irrelevant.
   2. Accept a more hazardous assignment to stay alert.
   3. Raise the concern with the supervisor and follow safe arrangements.
   4. Hide it so the scheduled patrol appears unchanged.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: Raise the concern with the supervisor and follow safe arrangements.

   Fitness for duty affects observation and safe decisions. A concern that affects the task should be reported and managed rather than hidden or treated as harmless because the site seems quiet.

   Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 7, fitness for duty; source checked 2026-10-24

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4. Several concerns have been raised in a long conversation. Why should the guard summarize the relevant points?

   1. To show that only the guard’s personal concerns matter.
   2. To make a decision without checking what the speaker meant.
   3. To add a conclusion that no participant actually expressed.
   4. To confirm the issue before choosing the next authorized step.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: To confirm the issue before choosing the next authorized step.

   A summary brings the important information together and lets the speaker correct a misunderstanding. The next action should respond to that actual concern within the guard’s role.

   Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 4, pp. 9–10; source checked 2026-10-24

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5. A supervisor issues revised post orders for a special event. What should the incoming guard do?

   1. Let visitors decide which instructions should apply.
   2. Review the revision and clarify unclear responsibilities.
   3. Assume the revision applies only to the outgoing shift.
   4. Use the older routine because it is more familiar.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: Review the revision and clarify unclear responsibilities.

   Post orders communicate the current assignment. A change should be reviewed, and unclear duties clarified through the supervisor rather than guessed.

   Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 3, pp. 29–30; source checked 2026-10-24

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6. Why might a vehicle be useful for a large-site patrol?

   1. It provides every sensory detail available on foot.
   2. It eliminates the need to watch for pedestrians.
   3. It can cover a large area more quickly.
   4. It permits entering any restricted space on the site.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: It can cover a large area more quickly.

   A vehicle can improve coverage and carry equipment on a large site. It does not replace all close observation or remove driving and access-control responsibilities.

   Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 3, p. 17; source checked 2026-10-24

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7. For a delayed property arrest under section 494(2)(b), what additional belief is required?

   1. A belief that the client would rather handle the person privately.
   2. Reasonable grounds that police arrest is not feasible in the circumstances.
   3. A general assumption that a guard should always arrest first.
   4. A preference to avoid calling police because paperwork takes time.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: Reasonable grounds that police arrest is not feasible in the circumstances.

   The delayed branch adds a reasonable time after the offence and reasonable grounds that arrest by a peace officer is not feasible. Preference, convenience or a client’s wish does not replace that condition.

   Based on: Criminal Code, s. 494(2)(b); source checked 2026-10-24

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8. Which alarm-system component detects a change in the monitored condition?

   1. The emergency contact list.
   2. The visitor sign-in sheet.
   3. The incident notebook.
   4. The sensor.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: The sensor.

   A sensor detects the monitored change. Transmitting information and processing the configured response are different system functions; knowing the roles helps the guard describe a problem accurately.

   Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 6, Alarm Systems — sensors; source checked 2026-10-24

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9. While responding to an intrusion alarm, a guard sees signs of forced entry. Which action fits the manual’s response priorities?

   1. Notify police, protect safety and avoid disturbing the scene.
   2. Handle damaged objects to identify every possible fingerprint.
   3. Reset the alarm and classify the event as a routine fault.
   4. Invite visitors inside to help determine what is missing.
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: Notify police, protect safety and avoid disturbing the scene.

   Evidence of a break-in calls for police notification and a safety-conscious response. Preserve observations and avoid unnecessary disturbance rather than treating the incident as a simple reset task.

   Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 6, Responding to Alarms — evidence of break-in; source checked 2026-10-24

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10. A patrol crosses an active loading area. Which factor belongs in the safety assessment?

    1. Vehicle movements, visibility and separation from pedestrians.
    2. Whether a previous worker used the same route without an incident.
    3. Only the colour of the guard’s uniform lettering.
    4. Only the number of successful deliveries last month.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: Vehicle movements, visibility and separation from pedestrians.

    Moving vehicles and limited sight lines can create a conflict with a walking guard. Assess the current work area and safe route rather than rely only on past uneventful use.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 7, site hazards; source checked 2026-10-24

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11. What evacuation message is most useful?

    1. A promise that everyone can return in exactly five minutes.
    2. A calm, clear direction to the designated safe gathering area.
    3. A series of conflicting destinations announced at random.
    4. A request that people stop to film the incident before leaving.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A calm, clear direction to the designated safe gathering area.

    Clear directions reduce confusion and help people reach the assigned safe area. Avoid unsupported return promises and actions that delay evacuation or expose people to danger.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 6, emergency communication; source checked 2026-10-24

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12. A report records that maintenance was notified of a hazard. Which detail most improves the follow-up record?

    1. Only the writer’s view that maintenance is usually slow.
    2. An invented repair completion time to close the issue.
    3. Who was contacted, when, and what information was given.
    4. A general claim that someone probably already knew about it.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: Who was contacted, when, and what information was given.

    The record should show the action actually taken and the contact made. Identifiable notifications support follow-up; assumptions or invented completion details do not.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 5, pp. 3–4, 12–14; source checked 2026-10-24

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13. Does a trespasser necessarily have to cause property damage for the section 3(1) offence?

    1. Only when a visitor refuses to pay a parking invoice.
    2. Only if the owner first estimates a repair cost.
    3. No; the provision applies whether or not damage is caused.
    4. Yes; without damage all trespass notices are ineffective.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: No; the provision applies whether or not damage is caused.

    Section 3(1) expressly addresses trespass whether or not damage is caused. The applicable trespass conditions and statutory exceptions must still be assessed; damage is not a universal additional element.

    Based on: Trespass to Premises Act, s. 3(1); source checked 2026-10-24

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14. A post instruction conflicts with a law that applies to the guard’s work. Which principle governs?

    1. The client’s payment makes the instruction legally superior.
    2. The instruction cannot override the applicable law.
    3. A verbal instruction cancels the guard’s licence conditions.
    4. Workplace rules replace federal law during paid shifts.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: The instruction cannot override the applicable law.

    The code requires compliance with applicable laws and licence conditions. Post instructions guide the assignment but do not create an exemption from the law.

    Based on: s. 20(2)(b), (d), (e); source checked 2026-10-24

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15. Why should a guard learn what doors and equipment normally look like at the beginning of a posting?

    1. To assume every later condition will be unchanged.
    2. To replace all further checks with the initial inspection.
    3. To avoid documenting any routine maintenance issue.
    4. To recognize later changes that may need attention.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: To recognize later changes that may need attention.

    A known baseline helps the guard identify a change. It supports later observation rather than making later checks unnecessary.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 3, p. 13; source checked 2026-10-24

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16. A guard leaves a security company that issued an authorized badge. What must happen to that badge?

    1. Attach it to the uniform of the next employer.
    2. Give it to a friend who is applying for the same job.
    3. Return the badge to the issuing business licensee.
    4. Keep it because an individual licence can be portable.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: Return the badge to the issuing business licensee.

    Section 23(4) requires return of the employer-issued badge when employment ends. Portability of the individual licence does not transfer ownership or authority over the former employer’s badge.

    Based on: s. 23(4); source checked 2026-10-24

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17. A former employer says an incident seems finished and a guard can discard the original notebook. What is the prudent response?

    1. Give the notebook to a friend who is interested in the incident.
    2. Destroy it whenever a manager says the report is no longer useful.
    3. Check applicable retention and legal-hold requirements first.
    4. Remove the difficult entries and retain only favourable pages.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: Check applicable retention and legal-hold requirements first.

    Notes may remain relevant to an investigation or later court process. Protect the original record and follow applicable retention obligations rather than assuming an incident is finally over.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 5, pp. 5, 20–21; source checked 2026-10-24

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18. A guard notices a mistaken word in a notebook entry. How should it be corrected?

    1. Erase the word completely so the change cannot be seen.
    2. Remove the page and rewrite the account without explanation.
    3. Keep the original readable and make the correction visible.
    4. Cover the original with opaque material before replacing it.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: Keep the original readable and make the correction visible.

    A correction should preserve the integrity of the original entry and show that a change was made. Concealing or removing the original defeats that purpose.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 5, pp. 7–8; source checked 2026-10-24

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19. A trainee changes security employers before completing the course. Can the trainee simply keep using the former employer’s training licence?

    1. Yes; the trainee can cross out the old employer’s details.
    2. Yes; the course receipt replaces the employer application.
    3. Yes; every training licence is portable between employers.
    4. No; the new employer must apply for the training licence.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: No; the new employer must apply for the training licence.

    Alberta’s worker guidance says training licences are not portable, and the employer submits the application. Do not apply the portability rule for a standard licence to a training licence.

    Based on: s. 15; worker page — Training licences; source checked 2026-10-24

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20. After hearing a general account, the guard needs one precise time. Which question is most suitable?

    1. Will you agree to use the time supplied by the manager?
    2. Why are you unable to give the answer I expected?
    3. You noticed the display at exactly nine, didn’t you?
    4. At what time did you first notice the broken display?
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: At what time did you first notice the broken display?

    A focused neutral question can clarify a specific detail after an open account. It should not supply a preferred time or pressure the witness to agree.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 4, p. 17; source checked 2026-10-24

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21. Someone appears not to hear a direction. What should the guard consider before concluding that the person is uncooperative?

    1. A louder accusation will establish whether the person is honest.
    2. Every missed direction is a deliberate challenge to authority.
    3. A communication barrier may be affecting the exchange.
    4. Failure to reply immediately proves criminal intent.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A communication barrier may be affecting the exchange.

    Hearing, language and other barriers can affect communication. The guard should consider an appropriate adjustment rather than equate difficulty with deliberate refusal.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 4, pp. 11–12; source checked 2026-10-24

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22. A threat has ended and the person has withdrawn. What should inform any further response?

    1. An assumption that earlier resistance justifies any later force.
    2. The client’s wish to make an example of the person.
    3. The present circumstances and continuing legal justification.
    4. The strongest response that was considered earlier.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: The present circumstances and continuing legal justification.

    Force must be justified in the actual circumstances. A past threat or resistance is not an automatic continuing justification once conditions change, and a response cannot become punishment.

    Based on: Criminal Code, ss. 25–26 and 34; source checked 2026-10-24

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23. A guard reaches an incident scene where a person may need urgent assistance. What comes before detailed evidence work?

    1. Interview all witnesses before checking immediate hazards.
    2. Assess danger and obtain the needed emergency assistance.
    3. Photograph every object before considering anyone’s safety.
    4. Finish a complete written report before calling for help.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: Assess danger and obtain the needed emergency assistance.

    Safety and appropriate emergency assistance take priority. Evidence preservation follows without delaying urgent protection of people.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 5, p. 19; source checked 2026-10-24

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24. A radio does not work in part of the patrol route. What is the soundest preparation?

    1. Remove that area from the log without telling the supervisor.
    2. Delay reporting until an emergency proves the problem matters.
    3. Report the dead zone and arrange a reliable contact method.
    4. Carry the radio anyway and regard possession as sufficient.
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: Report the dead zone and arrange a reliable contact method.

    A communication plan must work where the task takes place. Test and report failures and arrange the applicable alternative rather than assume a device guarantees access to help.

    Based on: ABST Participant Manual (third edition, 2014), Module 7, communication equipment; source checked 2026-10-24

    Official reference ↗