There are several broad categories of guards, depending on the context (facility security, military, or machinery safety). Here are the main types you’re likely asking about, with quick descriptions:
Security guards (property and people protection)
- Unarmed guards: Provide general security presence and observation without a firearm. Suitable for low-risk settings.
- Armed guards: Carry firearms and handle higher-threat environments; require extensive training and legal compliance. Used in banks, high-value asset sites, etc.
- Mobile guards: Patrol properties by vehicle or on foot to cover large areas and deter incidents. Common in malls, campuses, and corporate sites.
- Concierge or front-desk guards: Gatekeeping roles at the entrance, greeting visitors, and controlling access.
- Patrol officers or roving guards: Regularly move through an area to maintain visible security and respond quickly to incidents.
- Surveillance-focused guards: Specialize in monitoring CCTV and alarm systems, often coordinating with control rooms.
Security guards by setting or specialization
- Event security: Manage crowd control, entry screening, and safety at large events.
- Construction site guards: Protect equipment, materials, and workers on active sites.
- Bank or financial institution guards: Focus on preventing theft and safeguarding assets.
- Hospital or healthcare security: Protect patients, staff, and property while respecting hospital policies.
- Retail loss prevention: Focus on preventing shoplifting and internal theft in stores.
- Residential or gated-community guards: Patrol and manage access for residents and visitors.
Guards by weapon or training level
- Unarmed guards: Basic security duties without weapons.
- Armed guards: Trained and licensed to carry firearms; operate under strict legal and use-of-force guidelines.
Machine guards (occupational safety)
- Fixed guards: Physical barriers that do not move (e.g., fences, cages, fences around machinery).
- Interlocked guards: Guards that stop machinery when opened or removed, via interlock switches.
- Presence-sensing guards: Use light curtains, pressure-sensitive mats, or sensors to stop equipment when someone enters the hazard zone.
- Adjustable guards: Moveable barriers that can be repositioned to fit different processes while maintaining safety.
- Self-checking guards: Systems with integrated safety monitoring to verify proper operation.
- Info/guarding devices: Barriers that provide safety information and limit access, sometimes combined with signage.
If you’re focusing on a particular area (e.g., “types of security guards for a mall,” or “machine safety guards in manufacturing facilities”), tell me which context you care about and I’ll tailor the list with more detail and examples.
