Safer, Smarter Vehicle Pit Protection for a Growing Service Operation (Case Study)

Founded in 1951, Benny’s Car Wash & Oil Change has become a trusted name in vehicle care throughout Baton Rouge. What began as a car wash operation quickly expanded into oil changes and state vehicle inspections, growing into a multi-location business serving thousands of customers each week.

With seven active locations, and continued growth, their oil bay operations run at a fast pace. Efficiency, safety, and consistency are critical to maintaining their reputation and keeping service lines moving.

In this article, we’ll discuss the challenge Benny’s faced and how they came to find, and love, PitProtect as their service pit fall protection solution.

The Challenge: Heavy, Hazardous, and Inefficient Pit Covers

For years, the team relied on large steel grates to cover their vehicle service pits when not in use. While functional, these plates created several operational challenges:

• Heavy manual lifting, increasing strain and injury risk
• Stacking and storage concerns when pits were open
• Inconsistent replacement, relying on staff to remember to reposition covers
• Safety exposure in a high-traffic, fast-paced environment

As business increased, so did the urgency to reduce hazards and streamline workflows. Leadership recognized that their traditional method of pit protection no longer aligned with their operational demands. 

The Goal: A Flexible, Scalable Solution

Juan, Lead Project Manager, partnered with Levi, Director of Oil Bays, to identify a better approach. The requirements were clear:

• A retractable system that eliminated heavy lifting
• A modular design adaptable to multiple pit dimensions
• A solution that could scale across seven locations
• Minimal disruption to daily operations during installation

Because pit sizes varied across locations, a one-size-fits-all solution would not work. They needed flexibility without sacrificing durability or safety. 

The Solution: Modular Protection with PitProtect

During their search, Juan connected with a fall protection expert at Simplified Safety to discuss the PitProtect expandable vehicle service pit platform.

The modular design of PitProtect allowed it to adapt to the varying dimensions across all seven facilities. Instead of heavy steel plates that required manual handling, the retractable platform system provided:

• Quick deployment and retraction
• Elimination of manual lifting hazards
• Consistent coverage without relying on memory or manual replacement
• Adaptability for non-standard pit sizes

The system’s expandability made it possible to standardize safety procedures, even across non-standard infrastructure.

Implementation & Results of PitProtect

After installing PitProtect in several initial locations, the Benny’s team immediately saw improvements:

Improved Safety

• Reduced risk of back injuries and pinch points
• Eliminated stacking hazards 
• Increased consistency in pit coverage

Increased Efficiency

• Faster bay turnover
• Less downtime managing pit covers
• Simplified daily workflow

Scalable Standardization

• A single adaptable solution across multiple facilities
• Easier future expansion planning 

The ease of installation and intuitive design allowed their team to integrate the system quickly without interrupting service operations.

Future Vehicle Pit Fall Protection

With strong early results, Benny’s continues to roll out PitProtect systems across its remaining locations. The collaboration reflects their commitment to continuous improvement by prioritizing both employee safety and operational efficiency.

By replacing heavy steel grates with a modular, retractable solution, Benny’s transformed a long-standing safety risk into a streamlined, scalable process that supports their growing business.

If your business is looking to take your vehicle service pit protection to the next level, contact our team of fall protection specialists to discuss your possible solutions, or head over to our website where you can order your own PitProtect today!