Safety first: Why pre-paying for gas saves lives

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Paying before you pump creates a safer environment for all by preventing gas and dash injuries and fatalities.

Husky is being proactive and requiring pre-pay transactions at its stations across the province. And its retailers and attendants are big supporters.

“You hear tragic stories of employees trying to stop a gas theft and getting hurt, or even killed, and you often wonder if this could happen to you,” says Mike, who works at a St. Catharines Husky. “Even though we aren’t supposed to try to stop these incidents, pre-pay ensures there is no dispute at the pump and helps me get home to my family at the end of every shift.”

Pre-pay requires customers to purchase fuel before they fill up their vehicles, either at the pump or in-store. To date, there have been no deaths as the result of a gas and dash incident in provinces where pre-pay has been implemented.

Lawrence Richler, Vice President, Canadian Products Marketing, says Husky moved to prepayment for fuel after the loss of Surinder Pal Singh. Mr. Singh was celebrating the grand opening of his Husky retail site in Edmonton when he was drawn into a dispute with a customer over a fuel payment. He suffered injuries during the altercation which proved fatal.

“Surinder’s senseless passing shook all of us and challenged us to reaffirm our commitment to the safety of those working at our retail sites. While we were mitigating the risk associated with fuel payment, it wasn’t enough – we needed to eliminate it,” says Richler.

The Canada Safety Council strongly supports the pre-pay fuel system.

“We commend companies that are taking the initiative around pre-pay,” explains Jack Smith, president of the Canada Safety Council. “Corporations and consumers both must do their part and contribute to the decline of injury and fatalities in Canada.”

Husky wants its customers to know that pre-pay is about keeping everyone safe. “No gas fill-up is worth a life,” adds Mike. “I want my customers to realize the small act of pre-paying for fuel not only keeps me safe, it can also keep them out of possible harm’s way.”

This story was provided by Husky Energy for commercial purposes.