Page 9 - may-june 2019
P. 9
Wisdom Shared:
safety & education By Jay Johnston
SAFETY PERSISTENCE marshal to make an exception to leave the
tank by the door against the wall The propane
supplier stood up for the customer rather than
his issue of the Safety Leader will discuss code compliance or the policies listed in their
Safety Persistence Today I proudly write company safety manual My friend Bill Mahre
the first issue of the 20th year of publishing was so shocked and insulted that the fire marshal
T The Safety Leader I’ve been persistent would even consider compromise in this situation
Not sure how many hundreds of propane folks – he told the fire marshal that if there was an
I may have inspired over the years, but I am accident at that location he would testify
certain that an idea or two somehow helped against HIM….the fire marshal. Bill was persistent.
underscore the importance of leadership when it The fire marshal did the right thing. In the face
comes to safety in the propane industry of compromise a safety leader has, to stand firm
A SAFETY LEADER and be persistent Be known as the Persistently
This past April, Bill Mahre, a man who Safe Propane Company In this day and age our
hugely impacted my understanding of industry reputations can be the cornerstone of prosperity
technical issues as they apply to safety was or the sea of customers lost due to a negative
inducted into the LP Gas Hall of Fame Bill was experience (If it’s really bad, they tell others!)
recognized for his persistence when it comes WE EARN OUR REPUTATIONS
to promoting propane safety, identifying • Have you ever heard an angry customer
industry liability exposures and defending unjust talk about how awful the service is at your
liability accusations I believe we all have the company?
moral obligation to be stubborn about safety • Have you or one of your employees ever
compliance and routine about the compliance screwed up and the customer lost faith in the
process every day A Safety Leader is persistent quality of your service?
in the pursuit of safety practices and profitable • After an accident have you ever seen
results a formerly happy customer turn into a vengeful
OPPORTUNITY TO COMPROMISE IS EVER PRESENT plaintiff?
Whether it is answering our cell phones I have lost customers over
while driving or skipping a compliance misunderstandings that were founded in poor
requirement due to time or inconvenience – communication On one hand, was I persistent
we all face the temptation to compromise our enough to sell them the right coverage when
principles every day which is why persistent they resisted? On the other hand, did they
leadership is critical in the compliance process get caught cutting corners and just needed a
Today’s recent stalemate in the government scapegoat to blame? Sound familiar? Being
shutdown over national border security is due persistent about safety is the one factor that
to failure on both sides to compromise In that can set you apart from the competition And
sense we hope compromise is a good thing On if you have customers who resist your safety
the other hand, one of them may have a point persistence, are you willing to compromise your
to be persistence about…reader’s choice here reputation for those unsafe gallons? Successful
When it comes to compliance with propane safety leaders are persistent when it comes to
industry code and company policy safety preventing accidents and achieving intended
regulations there is no room for compromise goals of profitable results. ■
In this sense compromise is a weakness that _________________________________________
weakens our industry and puts customers, Jay Johnston (www thesafetyleader com) is an insurance
employees, emergency personnel and all executive, safety management consultant and inspirational safety
speaker in the propane industry Jay is the publisher of “The
stakeholders at risk Safety Leader” Newsletter and author of the book “The Practice
CONVENIENCE STORE DISPENSER COMPROMISE of Safety” Jay can be reached at Jay@thesafetyleader com or
952-935-5350
Many of you remember my fight to get
a 500-gallon tank away from a convenience
store. The store owner petitioned the state fire
9 Alabama Propane Gas Association | May / June 2019
