Ensuring Employee Safety and Risk Mitigation in the Propane Marketing Industry

Direct interactions with customers at their homes, places of business, or factories are significant to the propane marketing sector. However, these interactions have inherent risks, particularly when workers enter private property or interact with customers in a store or bulk plant. A recent trial in Dallas highlights the significance of careful employee hiring procedures and employers’ duties to maintain safe working environments.

The case involved a Charter Communications employee who tragically committed murder and engaged in criminal activity after visiting a customer’s home for a service call. It was discovered that Charter had acquired the business without carrying out adequate background checks and had ignored warning signs when hiring new employees. The worker had a history of forgery, document falsification, and harassment. Additionally, the employer did nothing to address the employee’s personal and financial problems, prompting increasingly criminal actions.

Charter’s actions drew a harsh response from the jury, which gave the victim’s estate sizable compensatory and punitive damages. This incident serves as a sobering reminder to propane retailers of the value of putting best employment practices into place to ensure both workers’ and customers’ safety and to reduce risks.

Retailers of propane should place a high priority on thorough background checks that go beyond a cursory application review. Hiring a professional for employment verification and contacting the applicant’s former employers can give you essential insights into their background. Due diligence is demonstrated by carefully recording background checks in personnel files.

It’s important to check customer complaints about employee service calls frequently. It is also necessary to quickly involve local law enforcement if there is solid evidence of potential criminal activity.

It’s also a good idea to get employment practices liability insurance. This specialized insurance shields you from employment-related lawsuits, including those alleging negligent hiring. Retailers need to confirm that the insurance covers both the cost of the defense and indemnity payments made to resolve disputes or pay jury verdicts.

Propane retailers can put employee safety first, reduce risks, and maintain a good name in the market by implementing these best practices. For long-term success and peace of mind, it is essential to protect both customers and employees.