ethics and the ehs professional

Foil 1 8/21/03 WRGartman

Ethics and the EHS Professional

September, 2004W. Richard Gartman, MS, CSP

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Foil 2 8/21/03 WRGartman.

Introduction If it is legal … If it is good business … If it makes you feel good … If it is morally correct … If you do it in the name of ….


You!Why are you an EHS professional?Are you ethical?Do you work for an ethical organization?Do your feel your ethics are compromised

in order to meet your manager’s and/or customer’s expectation?


Merriam-Webster: Ethicsa set of moral principles or values a theory or system of moral values a guiding philosophy the principles of conduct governing an

individual or a group the discipline dealing with what is good

and bad and with moral duty and obligation


Ethics DefinitionsNonconsequentialism

Not based on consequences but on other moral (“higher”) standard

ConsequentialismConsequences of actions or rules

EgoismConcerned with self interest

VirtueMoral excellence, righteousness, responsibility,

exemplary quality considered to be meritorious


Historical Ethical Theories

1. Nichomachean Ethics 2. Divine Command 3. Social Contract4. Meta Ethics5. Duty Ethics6. Utilitarianism 7. Rule Utilitarianism 8. Prima Facia Duties9. Ethical Egoism 10. Existentialism & Humanism 11. Virtue Ethics


Nichomachean EthicsAristotle (384-322BC)Greece Ancient

Philosopher Age of Questions

Context: Internal; Nonconsequential; Virtue Ethics;

The aim of human beings is to reason well for a whole or complete life. Virtue is a mean between 2 extremes: excess or deficiency. Humans should use both their reason and their feelings to decide for themselves.


Divine CommandSt. Augustine(354-430)North Africa

Medieval PhilosopherAge of Belief:

Context:External-Objective; Rule Non-consequential

Supernatural being will communicate to human beings commands and prohibitions of how to be moral. Human being’s actions must follow these commands without concerning themselves with self-interest. Disregard the consequences.


Social ContractThomas Hobbes (1588-1679) England 17th

Century Philosopher Age of Reason

Context:Internal Act and Rule Consequential; Egoist

We can overcome our natural state (Anarchy) if we give away our rights to a government and give the government absolute authority over us. Compromise of people’s interest is made out of satisfaction rather than altruism.


Meta Ethics David Hume(1711-1776)Scotland 18th Century

Philosopher Age of Enlightenment

Context Internal; NonConsequential; Philosophical; Non-Normative;

Analytic Morals based on feelings; Causation is

subjective, not objective; Ideas derive from senses. Analyzes language, logic, and rational foundations of ethical systems (not content); Meta Ethics consists of conceptual analysis, naturalism, non-naturalism, and non-cognitive or emotivism.


Duty Ethics Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) England 18th Century

PhilosopherAge of Enlightenment

Context:External; Rule Non-consequential; Normative;Virtue ethics

Act only according to that maxim by which you can. Good will is the most important human attribute. Reason is the second most important human attribute. The only thing that can give an action moral worth is its being done out of a sense of duty. If one performs an action just because another wants to, it has no moral worth. Founded the Categorical Imperative and the Practical Imperative.


UtilitarianismJeremy Bentham (1748-1837) England

19th Century PhilosopherAge of Enlightenment & Age of Ideology

Context: Normative; Internal; Act and Rule Consequential;

An act is right (moral) if it useful in bringing about a desirable or good end. What is good for largest number of people? Pain causes change.


Rule UtilitarianismJohn Stuart Mill (1806-1873) England 19th

Century PhilosopherAge of Ideology

Context:Teleology Prescriptive Internal; Consequential;

Everyone should always establish/follow rules that bring about the greatest amount of good for all.


Prima Facie DutiesSir William David Ross (1877-1940)

England 20th Century PhilosopherAge of Ideology & Age of Analysis

Context:External Rule Non-consequential;

Moral obligation to follow the rules regardless of consequences; To avoid doing harm is more important than doing good. Considered consequences when making moral choices.


Ethical Egoism (Objectivist Ethics)Ayn Rand(1905 – 1982) Russia 20th

Century Philosopher Age of Analysis

Context: Philosophical; Normative; Internal; External/objective

Consequential; Rational selfishness; Reason and happiness; Non-altruistic;

Everyone ought to act in his or her own self-interest. Ayn Rand says that self-interests of rational human beings will never conflict.


Existentialism & Humanism

Paul Sartre(1905-1980) France 20th Century PhilosopherAge of Analysis

Context:Ethical Egoism; Relativism; Freedom; Consequentialist

I do what I want to do. Religion was an excuse for not making decisions. Individual existence includes personal freedom and choice.


Virtue EthicsAlasdair MacIntyre(1929-Present) Scotland

21st Century Philosopher Age of Transformation

Context:Non-Consequential; Virtue Theory; Internal

Based on creating a moral or virtuous human being by not only acting virtuously, but by creating virtuous inclinations (feelings) within oneself. This produces a propensity to follow the rules.


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Board of Certified Safety Professionals

Certificants shall: 1. Hold paramount the safety and health of people and the

protection of property and the environment in performance of professional duties and exercise their obligation to advise employers, clients or appropriate authorities of danger to people, property, or the environment.

2. Perform professional services and assignments only in areas of their competence.

3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

4. Act in professional matters for employers or clients as faithful agents or trustees.

5. Build their professional reputation on merit of service. 6. Strive for continuous self-development while participating in

their chosen professional safety discipline


American Industrial Hygiene Association

CANONS OF ETHICAL CONDUCTIndustrial Hygienists shall: 1. Practice their profession following recognized scientific principles

with the realization that the lives, health and well-being of people may depend upon their professional judgment and that they are obligated to protect the health and well-being of people.

2. Counsel affected parties factually regarding potential health risks and precautions necessary to avoid adverse health effects.

3. Keep confidential personal and business information obtained during the exercise of industrial hygiene activities, except when required by law or overriding health and safety considerations.

4. Avoid circumstances where a compromise of professional judgment or conflict of interest may arise.

5. Perform services only in the areas of their competence. 6. Act responsibly to uphold the integrity of the profession


National Society of Professional Engineers

Fundamental CanonsEngineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:1. Hold par a mount the safety, health, and welfare of the

public.2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.3. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful

manner.4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or

trustees.5. Avoid deceptive acts.6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and

law fully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and useful ness of the profession.


And….Safety & health of peopleCompetencePublic serviceEmployer / client interestConfidentialTruthful Integrity of the profession


Values & EthicsValues are our fundamental belief or

principal

Ethics are behaviors and tells people how we act in ways that meet the standard our values set for us


Cultural Integration Relationship Model

Adapter from the Athens Group Model

Scorecard

Operation Plans

Strategic Plan

Vision

Values

Principles

Mission

Enabling Artifacts

implyinform

is implemented

by is achieved

by

is derived

from

is facilitated

and incented

by

are built intoimplement

and reinforce

guidesis achieved through

is derived fromis

measured by

Organization,Behavior, Policies


Situational EthicsWhat are the values you use to justify

your actions?EducationBest Professional JudgmentSarbanes-Oxley Act

What are the values of the community you work and live in?FamilyLawsChurch

Is there a difference?OK who is right?


Is It Ethical?Alignment of

ValuesPrincipal

Asking Why … Critical ThinkingSustainability


Self EvaluationReflection:

What are your valuesWhy do you have these values

When there is conflict, how to you deal with it?


Covey Habits

#4 Think Win/Wina frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefits in all human interaction

#5 Seek First to Understand, then to be understoodopen the door to creative solutions and alternatives


SummaryEthics is:

ABOUT YOUR VALUESABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT YOU LIVE OR WORK INABOUT HOW YOU SEE OTHERS VALUESWHAT YOU DO WHEN NO ONE IS AROUND

ethics and the ehs professional

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