Economic conditions sometimes lead to desperate acts by desperate individuals. As gasoline prices rise, we all want to be sure employees at service stations are not placed in harm's way. Misguided anger by frustrated individuals directed at service station employees can become a reality. Incidents of aggression could be on the rise particularly in the late evening and early morning hours at 24 hour locations unless proactive measures are taken. When there are no perceived witnesses or an employee appears to be in a vulnerable position, theft, vandalism and aggression toward service station personnel is more likely to occur.

Please counsel your insureds and their employees to continue to adhere to the safety features enumerated in the workers' compensation supplemental application which accompanies this newsletter. Lock down procedures should be in place covering late night and early morning hours when employees are most vulnerable. Convenience store sales should be made through pass through windows. Personnel should be counseled not to leave the safety of the locked down convenience store or convenience store booth. In the event of vandalism to gasoline dispensers (in order to steal the gasoline) or in the event of the actual theft of gasoline, employees should be directed to contact the police and not to interface in anyway with the suspects. Employees should not perform chores outside the convenience store such as emptying trash, cleaning the pump islands, or cleaning up litter. Friends or acquaintances should not be admitted into the store area.

Over the past many years, service station owners and oil company franchisors have done a tremendous job in reducing the potential risk to swing and midnight shift employees by installing pass through windows, bullet resistant glass, pay at the pump technology and automated drop safes. The incidence of aggression toward employees has greatly diminished. Unfortunately with this diminished aggression the attention to the proper safety procedures, in some instances, may have also diminished. While the prime motivation for bold acts in the past may have been the opportunity to steal cash, the motivation may now be to steal gasoline either through vandalizing the dispenser or physically intimidating or abusing the night and morning attendant. Is the risk worth it!? The trauma of the event is bad enough, but it is estimated that at the average mini-mart location (excluding Arco AM/PM type convenience stores) the difference in sales when comparing products sold through a pass through window and those sold directly over the counter during the late night to early morning hours is $100 to $250. Approximately 50% of that revenue is attributed to cigarette sales which would take place regardless of lock down procedures. Of the $50 to $125 of sales which might be lost, approximately 30% is gross profit or roughly $15 to $38. These figures obviously can vary greatly from location to location and configuration to configuration. Your insured will make his or her decision based upon economic realities when weighed against the potential risk to employees. These economic realities should not be limited to gross profit considerations. They should also allow for the increased cost in workers' compensation insurance premiums due to the increased risk hazard as well as possible increased experience modifications.

The overriding concern should always be the safety of the employee. We all need to redouble our efforts to discuss the realities of the risk with our insureds. After all, isn't that part of the reason they hired our services? We should not assume these realities are obvious to them. They are busy running their businesses and rely upon us for our expertise in risk management.

Thank you for your help in spreading the word. Remember to include the workers' compensation supplemental with your submissions. We appreciate your business and we will continue to provide you with quality carriers and helpful information you may wish to share with your clients.