Anti-Bribery & Corruption Policy
Buy Propane Tank delivers fuel people depend on for heat, hot water, and cooking. We earn that trust the same way every day: honestly. This policy sets out our zero-tolerance position on bribery and corruption across every order, delivery route, permit, and partnership we touch.
Document Control
- Policy No.
- BPT-ABC-2026
- Version
- 2.1
- Effective Date
- Jan 1, 2026
- Last Reviewed
- Jun 2026
- Next Review
- Jun 2027
- Classification
- Public
- Policy Owner
- Compliance Office
- Status
- ● Active
Our commitment
Every cylinder we exchange, every bulk tank we fill, and every delivery route we run depends on relationships — with customers, carriers, distributors, fire marshals, weights-and-measures officials, and local permitting offices. Bribery and corruption corrode every one of those relationships, and they put real people at risk when a safety check gets waved through for the wrong reasons.
That's why Buy Propane Tank holds a strict, company-wide, zero-tolerance position on bribery and corruption. We compete on price, availability, and service — never on who we're willing to pay off. This commitment applies everywhere we operate, regardless of local custom, deal size, or how routine a payment might seem.
This policy is written in plain language on purpose. It is meant to be read, understood, and used — not filed away. If anything here is unclear, our compliance line is one call away.
Zero tolerance
No bribe is too small, no contract is too big to walk away from.
Confidential reporting
Raise a concern by phone without fear of retaliation.
Reviewed annually
Updated as our team, markets, and regulations evolve.
Purpose & who this applies to
This policy explains what bribery and corruption look like in our business, what we expect from everyone who represents Buy Propane Tank, and how to raise a concern safely. It applies in full to:
Employees & management
Everyone on payroll, full-time or part-time, from dispatch and warehouse staff to senior leadership.
Drivers & delivery teams
Anyone behind the wheel of a Buy Propane Tank vehicle or representing us at a customer site or weigh station.
Suppliers & distributors
Cylinder suppliers, fuel terminals, haulage partners, and franchise or dealer locations carrying our brand.
Agents & brokers
Anyone authorized to negotiate, sign, or represent Buy Propane Tank in dealings with a third party.
Contractors & installers
Technicians and third-party crews who install, inspect, or service tanks on our behalf.
Any market we serve
Wherever we deliver, store, or sell propane, local or national, this policy travels with us.
Key definitions
Bribery rarely arrives labeled as bribery. Tap each term to see how it can actually show up in a fuel-delivery business.
Offering, promising, giving, or accepting anything of value to improperly influence a business or government decision.
The broader misuse of entrusted power — a role, a position, or access — for private gain, at the expense of fair dealing.
A portion of a contract's value paid back to the person who awarded the contract, usually in secret.
A small, unofficial payment made to speed up a routine government action you're already entitled to.
Anyone acting in a government, regulatory, or public capacity — elected, appointed, or employed.
Gifts, meals & hospitality
Modest, occasional courtesies are a normal part of business. The line gets crossed when a gift is frequent, expensive, secret, or timed to influence a decision — especially with a regulator or government employee.
As a baseline: gifts and hospitality must be infrequent, reasonable in value, openly given, and never offered to or accepted from anyone who regulates, inspects, or awards business to us while a decision is pending. Anything involving a public official requires manager sign-off first, with no exceptions.
Generally fine
- A branded calendar, cap, or low-cost holiday gift to a regular customer
- A modest working lunch tied to a real business discussion
- Declining a gift and reporting it if it feels off
Never acceptable
- Cash, gift cards, or anything easily converted to cash, ever
- Any gift to an inspector while a safety review is open
- Lavish travel, event tickets, or "favors" tied to winning business
Facilitation payments
Sometimes called "grease payments," these small unofficial fees are banned across our business, even in markets where they're locally common.
We do not pay anyone, anywhere, to speed up something we're already entitled to — a delivery permit, a customs clearance, a routine cylinder-refill inspection, or a hazmat placard renewal. If a process is slow, the answer is to escalate through proper channels, not to pay an unofficial fee.
One narrow exception: if a person's physical safety is directly threatened and a payment is the only way to remove that threat, the payment may be made. It must be reported to compliance within 24 hours and documented in full, including amount, recipient, and circumstances.
Working with third parties
We're judged by the conduct of the people who act on our behalf. Suppliers, distributors, brokers, and installers carrying the Buy Propane Tank name are held to this same standard.
Due diligence before we sign
New suppliers and agents are screened for ownership, reputation, and any past compliance issues before a contract is signed.
Anti-bribery clauses in every contract
Standard agreements include a clear anti-bribery clause and the right to walk away if it's breached.
Right to audit
We can request records related to work performed on our behalf and reserve the right to audit on reasonable notice.
Red flags trigger review
Unusual payment requests, offshore accounts, or pressure to skip due diligence pause the relationship until cleared.
Ongoing monitoring
Key partners are re-reviewed on a regular cycle, not just at onboarding.
Training for key contacts
Distributors and agents handling regulatory touchpoints receive a short briefing on this policy.
Charitable & political contributions
Generosity is welcome. Generosity used to buy influence is not.
Sponsorships, community donations, and local fundraiser support are a normal part of doing business in the communities we serve — and they need prior approval, a legitimate registered recipient, and a clear paper trail. They may never be timed, sized, or directed to influence a permit, contract, or regulatory decision.
Buy Propane Tank does not make political contributions from company funds to gain favor with regulators or officials who oversee our industry. Employees are free to support causes and candidates on their own time, with their own money — never presented as coming from the company.
Accurate books & records
If it isn't recorded honestly, it didn't happen the way we say it did.
Every payment, invoice, expense claim, and contract must accurately reflect what it's actually for. We don't keep off-book accounts, unrecorded cash funds, or vaguely labeled "miscellaneous" or "consulting" entries that disguise an improper payment. Falsifying a record to hide or justify a bribe is itself a serious violation of this policy, separate from the bribery itself.
Finance and management periodically review expense and vendor records for patterns that don't add up — round-number payments, duplicate invoices, or vendors with no verifiable address.
Speak up — reporting a concern
If something feels off, say something. You don't need proof, only a genuine concern.
Three ways to raise it
- Talk to your direct manager or supervisor, if you're comfortable doing so.
- Call our compliance line directly — every report is treated as confidential.
- Submit a concern through the contact form on mypropanetank.com.
Roles & responsibilities
Compliance is everyone's job, but a few roles carry specific duties.
Senior management
Sets the tone from the top, approves this policy, and resources the compliance function adequately.
Compliance & ethics office
Owns this policy, runs training, investigates reports, and reviews high-risk third-party relationships.
Managers & supervisors
Model the standard day to day, approve gifts and hospitality involving public officials, and escalate concerns promptly.
Every employee & partner
Knows this policy, avoids prohibited conduct, and speaks up the moment something looks wrong.
Violations & consequences
We take breaches seriously and respond proportionately, consistently, and without exception for seniority.
Employees
Disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment, depending on severity.
Third parties
Immediate suspension or termination of the contract or distribution agreement.
Legal referral
Matters that may be criminal are referred to law enforcement and regulators as required.
False reporting
Knowingly making a false report in bad faith is itself a policy violation — honest mistakes are not.
Retaliation
Retaliating against someone who reported in good faith is treated as seriously as the original breach.
Governing laws & standards
This policy is built to meet or exceed the anti-corruption laws that apply to our business.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Prohibits improper payments to foreign officials and requires accurate books and records.
Bribery Act 2010
One of the broadest anti-bribery statutes globally, covering private and public-sector bribery alike.
State & municipal codes
Local anti-corruption and procurement rules wherever we hold a permit, license, or delivery contract.
Policy review & governance
This is a living document, not a one-time announcement.
Annual formal review
The compliance office reviews this policy every year, or sooner if our risk profile changes.
Mandatory onboarding training
Every new employee completes anti-bribery training in their first month, with role-specific guidance for drivers, dispatch, and procurement.
Annual refresher
All staff complete a short refresher course, including real scenarios drawn from our own industry.
Leadership sign-off
Senior management formally re-approves this policy at each review cycle, recorded in our governance log.
Something doesn't look right? Tell us.
You don't need to be certain. A good-faith concern, reported early, is always welcome — and always protected.