OSH Security Practice Test

While doing access control at a site, a crowd starts gathering at your front entrance. What should you do?

1. Call for back-up, observe the actions of the crowd, take detailed notes but do not engage until back up arrives.

2. Go outside and yell at them to move away from your main entrance.

3. Identify the leader in the group and ask them to break up the crowd.

4. Arrest them all for causing a disturbance.

The correct answer is: Call for back-up, observe the actions of the crowd, take detailed notes but do not engage until back up arrives.

The chosen answer emphasizes a cautious and strategic approach to managing a potentially volatile situation. Calling for back-up ensures that you have the necessary support and assistance, particularly if the crowd could become unruly or pose a threat to safety. Observing the crowd's behavior allows you to gather critical information about their actions and intentions without escalating the situation. Taking detailed notes helps create a record of events that may be useful later for debriefing or incident reporting. By deciding not to engage until back-up arrives, you reduce the risk of confrontation, allowing trained personnel to assist when needed. The other approaches contain elements that are less effective or could be counterproductive. Engaging the crowd by yelling or attempting to control the situation personally can escalate tensions and may provoke a negative reaction. Identifying a leader within the group assumes that such a leader exists and can influence the crowd positively, which may not be the case. Additionally, resorting to arresting all individuals in the crowd without clear justification could lead to legal issues and further escalation, making the situation worse rather than resolving it. Thus, adopting a methodical and observatory approach, as suggested in the chosen answer, is the best course of action in this scenario.