Publishing and copyright information

The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

The following BSI references relate to the work on this document:

Committee reference GW/3
Draft for comment 16/30331797 DC

Publication history

First published May 2009
Second (present) edition September 2016

Foreword

Publishing information

This part of BS 8517 is published by BSI Standards Limited, under licence from The British Standards Institution, and came into effect on 30 September 2016. It was prepared by Panel GW/3/-/15, Security dog users, under the authority of Technical Committee GW/3, Private security management and services. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

This part of BS 8517 supersedes BS 8517‑1:2009, which is withdrawn.

Information about this document

This is a full revision of the standard, which has been updated to aid the understanding of the recommendations and reflect current practice.

Attention is drawn to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 [1], which contains provisions for regulating the private security industry, including security guarding. A person falling within the definition of providing security industry services under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 is required to be licensed in accordance with that Act. The Act can be found online at www.the-sia.org.uk.

Use of this document

As a code of practice, this part of BS 8517 takes the form of guidance and recommendations. It should not be quoted as if it were a specification and particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading.

Any user claiming compliance with this part of BS 8517 is expected to be able to justify any course of action that deviates from its recommendations.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its recommendations are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “should”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

The word “should” is used to express recommendations of this standard. The word “may” is used in the text to express permissibility, e.g. as an alternative to the primary recommendation of the Clause. The word “can” is used to express possibility, e.g. a consequence of an action or an event.

Notes and commentaries are provided throughout the text of this standard. Notes give references and additional information that are important but do not form part of the recommendations. Commentaries give background information.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

1 Scope

This part of BS 8517 gives recommendations for the operational use of a dog by a security dog handler when providing manned guarding services on a static site or mobile patrol, including records, kennelling/husbandry, dog health and welfare, equipment and clothing, training and operational requirements.

NOTE 1 Recommendations for static site guarding and mobile patrol services are given in BS 7499. Recommendations for screening of security individuals are given in BS 7858.

This part of BS 8517 also assists procurers of security dog services to ensure the service fits the end user requirements and risk profile.

This part of BS 8517 excludes the provision of detection dogs and handlers.

NOTE 2 Detection dogs and handlers are covered in BS 8517‑2.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Administration

4.1 General

4.2 Subcontracted services

4.3 Self-employed handlers

4.4 Insurance

4.5 Canine records

4.6 Assignment records

4.7 Health and safety

5 Accommodation/husbandry

5.1 Accommodation

5.2 Hygiene

5.3 Premises/kennel(s)

5.4 Emergency and evacuation procedures for kennels

6 Health and welfare of the dog

6.1 General

6.2 Responsibility

6.3 Routines

6.4 Food and water

6.5 Rest and exercise

6.6 End of service

7 Equipment and clothing

7.1 General equipment

7.2 Safety equipment

7.3 Muzzle

7.4 Maintenance

7.5 Uniform

7.6 Personal protective equipment

7.7 Identification

7.8 Records

8 Training

8.1 General

8.2 Instructors/trainers

8.3 Induction training

8.4 Basic job training

8.5 Handler training

8.6 Team assessment

8.7 Continuation training

8.8 Contingency training

8.9 Fatigue

9 Operational requirements

9.1 Operational duties

9.2 Assignment instructions

9.3 Risk assessment

9.4 Warning signs

9.5 Emergency contact

9.6 Welfare

10 Transport and on-site vehicle kennelling

10.1 Vehicles

10.2 Cages

10.3 Means of escape

10.4 Warning signs

10.5 Welfare

10.6 Daily routine

10.7 Transport of sick animals

11 Sale or gift of dogs

Bibliography

BS 8517-1:2016

Security dogs - Code of practice for the use of general purpose security dogs

Current

Published:

30 Sep 2016