Auto service businesses repair vehicles to get their customers back on the road and on with their lives, but they may pose a threat to these same customers if shop conditions aren’t properly maintained.

Customer and employee safety is critical for building and upholding an automotive service’s reputation. Nationwide Insurance combines simple safety tips with online training courses for a complete safety and loss prevention package. The goal is to assist small business owners with keeping customers safe while reducing risk and insurance premiums.

“Customer service and safety are every small business owner’s top priorities,” says Dave Gettles, vice president of loss control for Nationwide Insurance. “A few preventive measures can go a long way to protect your business and keep customers returning again and again.”

Nationwide Insurance offers online safety-training courses for auto service establishments, many available in both English and Spanish. The training website allows users to select the courses that fit their needs, learn at their own pace and track results. These courses are part of a larger online safety-training resource from Nationwide, which offers more than 300 classes to assist a variety of business needs. For more information, please visit safety-training.nationwide.com.

These simple tips from Nationwide Insurance also offer easy ways to maintain a safe workplace for employees and patrons at minimal or no cost:

• Maintain the interior and exterior – Keep parking lots and sidewalks in good condition. Provide dusk-to-dawn lighting for the exterior of the building and vehicle storage area(s). Protect utilities (gas meters, transformers, etc.) with physical barriers.

• Keep walking areas free and clear – Make sure areas where customers walk are in good physical condition and are clear of equipment. Clear exterior walking surfaces of ice, snow and debris.

• Use signage – Clearly post personnel signs to indicate restricted access, delivery routes and vehicle drop-offs. Post signs in reception areas citing lack of liability for any items left inside vehicles.

• Security measures – Monitor exterior grounds with surveillance equipment. Store all vehicle keys (company and customer) in a secure place. Educate employees with proper training and establish key control procedures in the event of an emergency.

For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.