IAHSS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield IAHSS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which legislation requires certain healthcare employers in California to establish and maintain a workplace violence prevention plan? → SB 1299
2. Which of the following is a primary goal of a comprehensive Visitor Management System (VMS) in a healthcare setting, according to IAHSS principles? → To replace the need for security officers at public entrances.
3. Which of the following allows a department asses its cost-effectiveness within an organization? → Bench-marketing
4. Which of the following behaviors is considered a 'proximal warning sign' of imminent workplace violence? → A patient clenching fists and invading the personal space of staff
5. An employee reports receiving repeated threatening text messages from a former coworker. This situation BEST represents which type of workplace violence? → Type III - Worker-on-Worker
6. Which of the following is not an example of an external costumer? → Employees
7. According to IAHSS guidelines and industry data, which area of a hospital is typically at the highest risk for workplace violence? → The emergency department.
8. Which of the following is NOT one of the three powerful, personal reasons to provide great customer service? → Trying to impress your supervisor
9. What should the most primary overriding concern of any security department be? → The safety and well-being of anyone in the facility
10. What is the relationship between employees and management sometimes called? → Employee relations
11. Under the IAHSS Healthcare Security Industry Guidelines, a 'Behavioral Emergency Response Team' (BERT) is primarily responsible for: → Responding to and de-escalating behavioral health crises to prevent violence
12. Which of the following are skills a security professional should have and use at all times? → All of the above
13. Which environmental design strategy is MOST effective at reducing workplace violence risk in emergency departments? → Implementing controlled access and security checkpoints at entry points
14. Which of the following may union members NOT do during picketing? → Block entrances to the building
15. When handling a telephoned bomb threat, which of the following is the most crucial action for the person receiving the call to take? → Keep the caller on the line as long as possible and gather information using a checklist.
16. Which of the following is an example of an 'administrative control' to prevent workplace violence in a hospital? → Implementing a buddy system policy for staff working in high-risk areas after hours
17. Which of the following statements best describes employees? → All staff directly employed by the facility
18. A hospital security director wants to measure the effectiveness of the workplace violence prevention program. Which metric is MOST useful? → Incident rate of violent events per 100 full-time equivalent employees
19. Which of the following is the definition of a customer? → Anyone with whom you interact
20. According to The Joint Commission (TJC) standards for the Environment of Care (EC), a hospital's security management plan must be evaluated at least: → Annually
21. A healthcare security officer notices a visitor becoming increasingly agitated and using threatening language. What is the BEST initial de-escalation technique? → Use a calm voice and active listening to acknowledge concerns
22. When documenting a workplace violence incident, which piece of information is MOST critical to include in the initial report? → A detailed account of the sequence of events, actions taken, and parties involved
23. How should friendships and inter-personal relationships between security officers and staff members from other department be treated? → Encouraged, but security staff educated about ethics and avoiding favoritism
24. Which of the following describes the main objective of good customer service? → To make the customer walk away with a positive feeling
25. According to IAHSS guidelines, which Type of workplace violence involves violence directed at employees by patients or their families? → Type II - Customer/Client
26. Under IAHSS standards, what is a key component of a Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP)? → Regular risk assessments to identify hazards and vulnerabilities
27. Which of the following is NOT a common technique to use while providing good customer service? → Use inappropriate body language
28. During a facility-wide evacuation due to a bomb threat, the Security Officer's primary responsibility at a designated evacuation assembly point is to: → Secure the perimeter to prevent unauthorized re-entry.
29. According to IAHSS guidelines, which element is ESSENTIAL for a successful workplace violence training program for healthcare staff? → Scenario-based training that includes recognition, reporting, and de-escalation skills
30. Which of the following is NOT a risk issue for healthcare? → High percentage of technical and professional staff.