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Ethics and the EHS Professional
September, 2004
W. Richard Gartman, MS, CSP
[email protected]
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 manager’s and/or
customer’s 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
1. Nichomachean Ethics
2. Divine Command
3. Social Contract
4. Meta Ethics
5. Duty Ethics
6. Utilitarianism
7. Rule Utilitarianism
8. Prima Facia Duties
9. Ethical Egoism
10. Existentialism & Humanism
11. 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
being’s 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 people’s 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; 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.
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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 selfinterests 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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?
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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
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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 wellbeing 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
Scorecard
is
measured
by
Values
is
derived
from
Strategic
Plan
is
implemented
by
Operation
Plans
Adapter from the Athens Group Model
inform
is
achieved
through
Vision
imply
guides
is
derived
from
is
achieved
by
Mission
Principles
implement
and
reinforce
is
facilitated
and
incented
by
are
built
into
Enabling
Artifacts
Organization,
Behavior,
Policies
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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
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