All shops have been guilty of it at one point or another… trash piling up, clutter in the parts room, no time to restock the first aid kit or the safety glasses bin, that oil spill by the bulk tank not cleaned up. Its been super busy and you’re shorthanded on top of it all. Sadly this has become a norm in a majority of small to mid-size shops. At what point does the risk become greater than the time saved by skipping certain procedures?

This year, there have been three fires at business I’ve either called on or am looking to work with. I’m sure there are plenty of other injuries and issues that don’t make the news as well.  This is not meant to call these companies out, but to serve as a warning to all.

How do we change the culture in our shops? All too often I hear that the new young employee is forming bad habits or the veteran employee of 30 years lives by the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality.  We can all take better ownership of our daily actions to help prevent costly and tragic occurrences.

I don’t work in a shop, but I can make a better habit of a pre-shift walk around of my car to help keep myself and other motorists safe. I can also do a better job of showcasing and promoting the customers that do keep their facilities in tip top shop. Maybe part of the issue it people are unaware of what the shop could look like if a few simple changes were made?

This year has really made me appreciate offering customers and prospects a Shop Site Assessment to help them uncover areas of improvement and hopefully help them avoid these horrific situations. A perk to consider is using these Site Assessment findings to bargain a better insurance rate, which I have had customers do.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to set one up!