I was doing gas audits yesterday, red and yellow site. Site had an entire diesel section in the back, that I almost missed.(Sidenote, do I skip these in the report or do I count them in the pump totals? First time that I've seen this set up before)

I pulled up to start taking pictures and this charter bus pulls up at the exact same time as I am getting out of my car. I knew that he wasn't going to move anytime soon and he just blocked two pumps that I need pictures of. Sigh.

I take the other pictures and start filling out the report. At one point I walk to the bus to see what is taking the guy so long, as I didn't see him get out of the bus. He did indeed get out of the bus, walked in the store and bought himself a bottle of beer.

Dang...we are standing there for a second looking at each other, I have on my vest as well. I say hello and tell him I am doing inspections and just need to take pictures of the pumps. He said he would move as soon as he fueled up. Sigh..Ok, no worries bro.

A minute later, I see a little puff float by where he was standing. I walk back and now he is fueling up, with cigarette lit.

I said DUDE...WTF man!?! He looks at me like I'm crazy and says "It's ok, it's diesel."

??? "What??" (is this a thing that I don't know about???)

I was so confused that I just kind of snapped on him. I never had to tell somebody off during audits.
Before I knew what happened, I was kinda telling him off. He put the cigarette out, looked at me like I'm weird, and walked off.

My question is....do I put this anywhere in the report? I mean, it has nothing to do with the audit, it's way off script for me to tell someone why they should not be buying a beer and getting in the drivers seat of a charter bus, while smoking a cigarette and fueling the same bus.

I would not put it in the report as it has nothing to
do with the operation of the location. The only exception would be if the report asked if there was proper no smoking signage by the pumps and it happened to be missing and customers were smoking (and that’s all I would mention).

It’s outside of your scope and nothing to do with your audit…. If you’re concerned, next time, grab the number and info for that vehicle to report separately to that person’s employer or company instead.

Yes, it is not under the station's control, and I would not mention it. And, yes, diesel is not flammable in the same way as gasoline, but I still probably not a good idea to smoke while fueling.

I'd have reported him to the police for drinking and driving.

Diesel is not flammable at all. In fact you could put out a cigarette in it. However a couple of years ago I saw a uniformed cop fueling his car and smoking at a gas station I was about to inspect. I moved to a pump further away.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/2022 03:45PM by LIJake.

@Daisy Mae wrote:

I'd have reported him to the police for drinking and driving.

I did this once. I was finishing up with an audit and there was a customer who was obviously impaired. Stumbling around and slurring words and smelling of alcohol. I went into the store to see if they were going to do anything and they said no. I finished up my audit, called the police and reported it. I hung around long enough to see the driver pull out onto the street and immediately was stopped.

In some states it is illegal for gas stations to sell alcohol or gasoline to obviously impaired persons.

There are only 2 reasons I can think to include in the report.

(1) If it transpired prior to revealing yourself. This report specifically asks you to comment on your "experience" prior to revealing yourself. Here I would say "I felt unsafe because a customer was smoking a cig while fueling." I would not elaborate on the conversation that took place.

(2) If the situation was in plain view of the cashier who failed to take any corrective action. There is plenty of talk in the guidelines about "safety first". Someone smoking at a gas station is not safety first. Even if diesel, there is plenty of gas, oil and other potential chemicals around. If the jack drinks when driving a chartered bus who knows where he is going to flick the cig. It is constructive feedback for the station to have awareness of that can be stated in the comments section.

Since the diesel pumps were located on the backside, not likely the cashier could see what transpired and it seems you had already revealed yourself. So in your case it seems no.

In terms of the diesel pumps on the backside --- in my experience at stations with the same set-up, that diesel fuel is not being sold under the station brand. The key is "sold under the station brand" when it comes to evaluating the diesel pumps.

1st the truck stop section of the gas station on the yellow stations is not shopped. You only need pictures of the pumps under the branded canopy where the gasoline is. And the yellow stations don't want pictures of diesel only pumps, not even under the branded canopy. Read your guidelines.

@Zek wrote:

In terms of the diesel pumps on the backside --- in my experience at stations with the same set-up, that diesel fuel is not being sold under the station brand. The key is "sold under the station brand" when it comes to evaluating the diesel pumps.

Turns out...I didn't need to evaluate the diesel pumps in the first place, which was another question I had. So all that for nothing lol. But the sold under station brand bit is good to know as well.

@LIJake wrote:

Diesel is not flammable at all. In fact you could out a cigarette out in it.

I cant believe I didn't know that...

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