Ethics of the OH&S Profession

In a way the OH&S Profession is viewed as a role that has as one of its core responsibilities the safety and well-being of the workers including their health and welfare. This puts an OH&S Professional on a similar pedestal as that of a medical practitioner and hence guided by a similar code of conduct and ethics.

There are many definitions of ethics but possibly the most simple and easy to understand is the one that states “Ethics are standards by which one should act based upon values.”  

Values are core beliefs such as duty, honor and integrity that motivate attitude and action. However it is important to note that not all values are ethical values. In the context of ethical decision making in relation to OH&S Profession we are concerned primarily with ethical values that tell us what is right and what is wrong and this has precedence over other non-ethical values.

The main factors that affect ethical thinking in relation to the OH&S Profession are related to

(a) Character that is demonstrated by the OH&S Professional and

(b) Culture of the Organization that includes OH&S values

The character of the ethically correct OH&S Professional is defined by following attributes

(i)  actively demonstrate that he cares about the well-being of all staff

(ii)  treat everyone equally with respect and dignity

(iii) take all concerns of employees seriously and provide feedback on time

(iv) establish acceptable standards of behavior regarding right and wrong

(v)  not accept unsafe behaviors and conditions

(vi) continue to build trust and commitment

(vii) hold themselves and others accountable for correct implementation of good OH&S practices

The key elements to build an organizational culture with strong OH&S values are as follows

(i)  personnel at all levels of organizational hierarchy are held accountable for their actions or inactions

(ii) workers feel that they are part of a community while at workplace and all are treated fairly

(iii)  workers demonstrate mutual respect for each other’s ideas, values and beliefs

(iv)  there is good communication and understanding between workforce and management

(v)   leadership in the workplace is effective and all personnel know what they are expected to do in relation to performing tasks assigned to them

(vi)  the organization evaluates design of existing work systems and allows redesign of work if deemed necessary

(vii) workers feel comfortable to STOP any unsafe work without fear of reprisal

(viii) the organization assesses the level of effective control and autonomy to its workers in relation to optimization of performance

(ix)   the organization values worker inputs during the execution of work and recommended suggestions for improvement

(x)    the organization recognizes good performance and puts in place appropriate system for rewards

(xi)   workers are informed about changes that can impact how their work is done

(xii)  workers are able to meet the demands for work life balance

(xiii) workers have energy at the end of the shift for their personal life

(xiv) workers get sufficient training to perform their work safely

In conclusion it is important for the leaders of any organization to be correct in their approach from the perspective of professional ethics. This is a primary requirement for all good leaders who wish to build a strong organizational culture steeped in OH&S values. By promoting policies and programs reinforcing the personal and organizational standards of behavior that is expected from employees at all levels of the organization the transformational leaders would successfully establish a strong safety culture.