Ethics for the Safety Ethics for the Safety ProfessionalProfessional

Trish Ennis, CSP, ARMTrish Ennis, CSP, ARM

ASSE Vice President, Council ASSE Vice President, Council of Professional Developmentof Professional Development

Ethics DefinedEthics Defined

►Ethics (used with a sing. or pl. verb): Ethics (used with a sing. or pl. verb): The rules or standards governing the The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of conduct of a person or the members of a profession: medical ethics.a profession: medical ethics.

American Heritage DictionaryAmerican Heritage Dictionary

Ethics DefinedEthics Defined

►To itemize, ethics is...To itemize, ethics is... a set of behavioral rules,a set of behavioral rules, created by human beings, through created by human beings, through

general consensus,general consensus, regulating our interactions with one regulating our interactions with one

another,another, for the purpose of mutually increasing for the purpose of mutually increasing

overall long-term happiness, well-being, overall long-term happiness, well-being, and prosperity,and prosperity,

and is enforced, in mild cases, through and is enforced, in mild cases, through social pressures and, in severe cases, social pressures and, in severe cases, through legal enforcement.through legal enforcement.

""We judge ourselves by what we We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already judge us by what we have already

done.“done.“

— — Henry Wadsworth LongfellowHenry Wadsworth Longfellow

Why the Interest in Why the Interest in Professional Ethics?Professional Ethics?

1.1. As occupations become more specialized, As occupations become more specialized, the ethical issues become more specializedthe ethical issues become more specialized

2.2. Professional societies have increased Professional societies have increased efforts to establish ethical codes to guide efforts to establish ethical codes to guide membersmembers

3.3. Increasing public scrutinyIncreasing public scrutiny4.4. Regulatory oversight, public protectionRegulatory oversight, public protection

ReasonsReasons for Formal Ethical for Formal Ethical CodesCodes

►Clarifies values and rulesClarifies values and rules►Facilitates group cohesionFacilitates group cohesion► Instills necessary public confidenceInstills necessary public confidence►Used as framework for disciplineUsed as framework for discipline

Common Professional ValuesCommon Professional Values

► IntegrityIntegrity►HonestyHonesty►Promise keepingPromise keeping►LoyaltyLoyalty►CompetenceCompetence

► Respect for personsRespect for persons► JusticeJustice► CompassionCompassion► ConfidentialityConfidentiality

ASSE Code Of Professional ASSE Code Of Professional ConductConduct

Fundamental PrinciplesFundamental Principles

Fundamental CannonsFundamental Cannons

BCSP Code of EthicsBCSP Code of Ethics

““Certificant’s shall, in their professional Certificant’s shall, in their professional safety activities, sustain and advance safety activities, sustain and advance the integrity, honor, and prestige of the integrity, honor, and prestige of the safety profession by adherence to the safety profession by adherence to these standards.”these standards.”

Ethical ChallengesEthical Challenges

►PlagiarismPlagiarism

►Practicing Beyond Your AbilityPracticing Beyond Your Ability

PlagiarismPlagiarism

►Taking someone else's work and Taking someone else's work and presenting it as your ownpresenting it as your own

►Failing to give credit to othersFailing to give credit to others Public Domain?Public Domain? Illegal, or just unethical?Illegal, or just unethical?

Skill and AbilitySkill and Ability

► Is This: Is This:

►The same as This:The same as This:

SummarySummary

► Examination of professional ethics is Examination of professional ethics is important for the profession as an important for the profession as an institution, and for individual professionalsinstitution, and for individual professionals

► Solving problems can sometimes be very Solving problems can sometimes be very difficult difficult

► Better ethical decision-making can come Better ethical decision-making can come from education and practicefrom education and practice

► Education is needed to supplement Code of Education is needed to supplement Code of EthicsEthics

SourcesSources

►Material for this presentation was Material for this presentation was created using numerous sources:created using numerous sources: Dr. Peter Strahlendorf Dr. Peter Strahlendorf

B.Sc., LL.B., LL.M., S.J.D., B.E.S., CRSP – B.Sc., LL.B., LL.M., S.J.D., B.E.S., CRSP – 2004 PDC Presentation2004 PDC Presentation

John C. Maxwell – “Ethics 101 What Every John C. Maxwell – “Ethics 101 What Every Leader Needs to Know”Leader Needs to Know”

www.asse.orgwww.asse.org www.bcsp.orgwww.bcsp.org