In an effort to increase safety for attendants at gas stations, the Ministry of Labor (MoL) in Ontario is considering imposing a prepaid policy following an attendant’s death in a “gas and dash” incident.
According to the Canadian OH&S News, gas attendant Hashem Atifeh Rad, was hit by a vehicle leaving the station without paying for the gas. The attendant was found on the roadway with severe injuries and died in hospital the next day according to a Peel Regional Police statement, which also revealed the driver reportedly was seen covering up his license plates prior to leaving the scene. (WCxKit)
In an effort to increase the pressure, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) in Toronto is slated to vote on a resolution requesting the province to legislate mandatory prepaid services at gas stations. The resolution, provided by the Hamilton Police Service, was voted on at the annual general meeting in Huntsville, Ontario June 29.
Ontario is not the first province to consider prepaid systems. British Columbia put in place a pay-then-pump system in 2008 after the death of a young gas attendant. Grant's Law, named after Grant DePatie who died in a gas theft incident in March of 2005, requires mandatory prepayment for gasoline, and safe work practices and protection for gas station workers.
According to a Ministry of Labor representative, "Employers are required to assess risks and to have measures and procedures in place to control those risks. For gas stations, one of those risks needing to be addressed is gas-and-dash."
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: [email protected].
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