EDMONTON, Alberta – The Alberta government has proposed a bill to keep gasoline station and convenience store employees safer by mandating prepayment for fuel, the Morinville News reports. The “Act to Protect Gas and Convenience Store Workers” would add the requirement for prepayment for fuel, as well as regulations for violence-prevention training at convenience and fuel retailing locations to the Occupational Health and Safety Code.

“As Albertans, our hearts break when we see incidents of violence involving workers. That’s why we are taking action to increase safety for retail fuel and convenience store workers by introducing mandatory violence-prevention plans and pre-payment options for fuel,” said Labor Minister Christina Gray. “This legislation would better protect workers and prevent violent incidents from happening in Alberta.”

For gasoline stations without pay-at-the-pump technology, customers could be required to deposit cash or a credit card with the employee before fueling. The safety training would highlight safe cash-handling procedures, video monitoring, good visibility inside and outside the store, and using time-lock safes to reduce cash on hand. If approved, the new measures will go into effect June 1, 2018.

“Pre-payment eliminates the risks associated with fuel payments, and we applaud the government for taking this important step to protect attendants and the public,” said Lawrence Richler, vice-president for Canadian Products Marketing at Husky Energy Inc. “We believe this is the right thing to do—and so do the people working at our stations.”