Assume that one overhears that an OSHA inspector will inspect his or her place o
ID: 456648 • Letter: A
Question
Assume that one overhears that an OSHA inspector will inspect his or her place of employment within the next week. Both the employee and the plant manager are aware of a safety hazard at the plant. For financial reasons, the hazard will not be fixed before the inspection, but the employer does plan to reduce employee exposure to the problem.
What are the ethical issues in this situation?
What are the pros and cons for keeping this information to yourself versus telling your plant manager what you heard?
What do you think most managers would do? What would you do?
Explanation / Answer
In this situation it is not ethical to risk the safety of the employees just because of money,knowing that a safety hazard exists in the plant.Mere reduction of employee exposure to the problem would not solve the problem and would not minimize the life risk of the employees.
If i tell about this information to my plant manager he may take some corrective actions before the inspection.And if i don't tell my plant manager and keep the information to myself the issue cannot be solved and will be found out by the inspector anyway and then i will be in bigger trouble.
As a manager i would have enough wisdom to fix the problem as soon as possible,being suid by and injured employee will cost much more than fixing the safety hazard.