Ethics and the EHS Professional

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Ethics and the EHS Professional

• September, 2004
• W. Richard Gartman, MS, CSP
• Rgartman_at_austin.rr.com
• 512-560-2771

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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 .

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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 managers and/or customers
  expectation?

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Merriam-Webster Ethics

• a 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

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Ethics Definitions

• Nonconsequentialism
• Not based on consequences but on other moral
  (higher) standard
• Consequentialism
• Consequences of actions or rules
• Egoism
• Concerned with self interest
• Virtue
• Moral excellence, righteousness, responsibility,
  exemplary quality considered to be meritorious

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Historical Ethical Theories

• Nichomachean Ethics
• Divine Command
• Social Contract
• Meta Ethics
• Duty Ethics
• Utilitarianism
• Rule Utilitarianism
• Prima Facia Duties
• Ethical Egoism
• Existentialism Humanism
• Virtue Ethics

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Nichomachean Ethics

• Aristotle (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.

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Divine Command

• St. Augustine(354-430)North Africa Medieval
  Philosopher
• Age of Belief
• Context
• External-Objective Rule Non-consequential
• Supernatural being will communicate to human
  beings commands and prohibitions of how to be
  moral. Human beings actions must follow these
  commands without concerning themselves with
  self-interest. Disregard the consequences.

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Social Contract

• Thomas 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 peoples interest is made out of
  satisfaction rather than altruism.

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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.

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Duty Ethics

• Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) England 18th Century
  Philosopher
• Age of Enlightenment
• Context
• External Rule Non-consequential
  NormativeVirtue 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.

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Utilitarianism

• Jeremy Bentham (1748-1837) England 19th Century
  Philosopher
• Age 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.

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Rule Utilitarianism

• John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) England 19th Century
  Philosopher
• Age of Ideology
• Context
• Teleology Prescriptive Internal Consequential
• Everyone should always establish/follow rules
  that bring about the greatest amount of good for
  all.

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Prima Facie Duties

• Sir William David Ross (1877-1940) England 20th
  Century Philosopher
• Age 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.

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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.

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Existentialism Humanism

• Paul Sartre(1905-1980) France 20th Century
  Philosopher
• Age 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.

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Virtue Ethics

• Alasdair 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
• 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.
• Perform professional services and assignments
  only in areas of their competence.
• Issue public statements only in an objective and
  truthful manner.
• Act in professional matters for employers or
  clients as faithful agents or trustees.
• Build their professional reputation on merit of
  service.
• Strive for continuous self-development while
  participating in their chosen professional safety
  discipline

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American Industrial Hygiene Association

• CANONS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT
• Industrial 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

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National Society of Professional Engineers

• Fundamental Canons
• Engineers, 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.

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And.

• Safety health of people
• Competence
• Public service
• Employer / client interest
• Confidential
• Truthful
• Integrity of the profession

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Values Ethics

• Values 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

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Cultural Integration Relationship Model
Adapter from the Athens Group Model
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Situational Ethics

• What are the values you use to justify your
  actions?
• Education
• Best Professional Judgment
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• What are the values of the community you work and
  live in?
• Family
• Laws
• Church
• Is there a difference?
• OK who is right?

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Is It Ethical?

• Alignment of
• Values
• Principal
• Asking Why Critical Thinking
• Sustainability

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Self Evaluation

• Reflection
• What are your values
• Why do you have these values
• When there is conflict, how to you deal with it?

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Covey Habits

• 4 Think Win/Win
• a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks
  mutual benefits in all human interaction
• 5 Seek First to Understand, then to be
  understood
• open the door to creative solutions and
  alternatives

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Summary

• Ethics is
• ABOUT YOUR VALUES
• ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT YOU LIVE OR WORK IN
• ABOUT HOW YOU SEE OTHERS VALUES
• WHAT YOU DO WHEN NO ONE IS AROUND