Pepper Spray

Carrying Pepper Spray

Employees shall carry their authorized pepper spray while on duty in a consistent, secure, and readily accessible location.

Because Absolute Security no longer requires duty belts, employees are not required to carry pepper spray on a duty belt. The selected carry location must:

• Secure the canister against accidental loss or discharge.

• Allow the employee to readily access it if a legitimate defensive need arises.

• Remain reasonably consistent from shift to shift so the employee does not have to search for the device during an emergency.

• Protect the device from unnecessary damage, contamination, or excessive heat.

Employees should become familiar with the location and operation of their issued spray before beginning field duties.

When Pepper Spray May Be Used

Pepper spray shall only be used when the circumstances reasonably justify its use as a defensive force option.

An employee should consider OC when there is an immediate threat to the safety of the employee or another person and lesser reasonable options such as communication, creating distance, disengagement, or requesting assistance are ineffective, inappropriate, or cannot safely be used.

Pepper spray shall not be used merely because a person:

• Refuses to follow a property rule.

• Refuses a verbal instruction.

• Is argumentative, disrespectful, or verbally abusive.

• Is trespassing but presents no immediate threat to anyone.

• Attempts to leave an area.

• Refuses to provide identification.

• Is being difficult or uncooperative but is not presenting a physical threat.

The employee's objective is to stop or prevent an immediate threat, not to punish the person or force ordinary policy compliance.

This is consistent with the broader use-of-force principle already stated in the manual: force is tied to preservation of life rather than protection of property.

Before Deployment

When circumstances safely permit, employees should attempt to:

• • • • Use clear verbal direction and de-escalation.

      • Create and maintain distance.

      • Move away from unnecessary confrontation.

      • Request another officer, supervisor, or law enforcement when appropriate.

      • Consider innocent bystanders and the surrounding environment.

      • Be aware that wind, rain, enclosed spaces, and other environmental conditions may affect OC spray.

When circumstances permit, the employee should provide a clear verbal warning before deploying pepper spray.

Deployment

If deployment becomes necessary, the employee shall use only the amount reasonably necessary to stop the immediate threat.

Once the threat has stopped, the employee shall stop using the spray. Pepper spray shall not continue to be applied as punishment or retaliation.

Employees should remember that OC is not guaranteed to immediately incapacitate a person. An employee should not move unnecessarily closer to an exposed person simply because the spray has been deployed.

The employee's priorities remain: Safety → Distance → Assistance → Medical attention → Notification → Documentation

After Pepper Spray Is Used

Whenever pepper spray is discharged at a person, the employee shall take the following actions as soon as it is safe to do so:

1. Create a safe distance from the individual and remain alert to any continuing threat.

2. Request assistance or backup when appropriate.

3. Contact law enforcement when the circumstances require police involvement.

4. Advise responding personnel that pepper spray has been deployed.

5. Request appropriate medical assistance for the exposed individual.

6. Notify the employee's site supervisor or management as soon as safely practical.

7. Preserve relevant evidence and observations.

8. Complete the appropriate THERMS incident report before the end of the shift, unless management directs otherwise.

Medical Attention and Aftercare

An employee should never assume that because exposure to OC is expected to cause discomfort, an exposed individual does not require medical attention.

Employees shall not diagnose the condition of an exposed person.

If a person appears to be experiencing unusual or significant medical distress, employees shall request emergency medical assistance immediately.

Responding police, fire, EMS, or other qualified personnel should be advised that OC was deployed so they can determine the appropriate treatment and care.

Accidental Exposure

Employees may themselves be affected by OC because of wind, airborne particles, close proximity, or contact with a contaminated person or surface.

If an employee or uninvolved person is accidentally exposed:

• Move to an appropriate safe area.

• Avoid additional unnecessary exposure.

• Notify supervision.

• Obtain medical assistance when circumstances warrant it.

• Document any significant accidental exposure as directed.

Inspection, Storage and Maintenance

Employees are responsible for maintaining their issued pepper spray in serviceable condition.

Before or during routine equipment inspection, employees should ensure that:

• The canister is not visibly damaged or leaking.

• The nozzle and safety mechanism are unobstructed.

• The canister is within its usable or manufacturer-designated service life.

• The device has not been exposed to damaging conditions.

• It is being carried in a secure and reasonably upright position.

Do not intentionally expose pepper spray to extreme heat, including leaving it unnecessarily in a hot vehicle.

Expired, damaged, leaking, missing, or malfunctioning OC spray shall be reported to a supervisor or management and replaced as appropriate.

Prohibited Uses

Employees shall not:

• Deploy pepper spray as punishment.

• Use it solely to obtain compliance with a client rule or company instruction.

• Threaten someone with OC merely to intimidate them.

• Use another chemical defense product unless specifically authorized by Absolute Security.

• Use pepper spray recklessly around uninvolved persons.

• Discharge pepper spray as a joke, demonstration, or test without authorization.

• Allow another person to use company-issued OC.

• Conceal or fail to report a deployment.

Required Reporting

Every intentional deployment of pepper spray against a person must be reported.The report should document, at minimum:

• Date, time, and location.

• Persons involved.

• Events leading up to the deployment.

• Behavior or threat observed by the employee.

• Verbal instructions or attempts at de-escalation when applicable.

• Why the employee believed deployment was necessary.

• What occurred after deployment.

• Law-enforcement response.

• Medical response or treatment offered.

• Supervisor notification.

• Witnesses, photographs, video, or other relevant evidence.

The report should describe observable facts rather than conclusions or personal opinions, consistent with Absolute's general reporting standards. The existing manual similarly emphasizes specific times, locations, actions, demeanor, supporting details, and avoiding personal opinion.

Pepper spray is a defensive tool—not a compliance tool.

Carry it while on duty. Keep it secure and accessible. Use it only when reasonably necessary to address an immediate safety threat. Once the threat ends, the use of force ends. Any deployment requires notification, medical consideration, and documentation.