Professional Support for Safety‐Conscious Whistleblowers
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering
Volume 112, Issue 2
Abstract
Engineers who blow whistles are sometimes regarded as public advocates when they report questionable designs or processes that may violate sound engineering principles, since the engineer's paramount responsibility is to protect the public health and safety. If these situations are corrected, future “accidents” can be prevented and billions saved in legal fees and judgments. Cases in which management fired the whistleblower and/or did not heed such warnings are cited. Support for safety‐conscious whistleblowers grows as technology becomes more complex, and as risk analysis develops. Support involves voluntary development of corporate and/or engineering society ombudsmen; or mandatory, legal constraints against employers where public officials investigate the cases. Employees are obligated ethically or legally to report potentially unsafe situations and are supposedly protected against retaliation. The paper recommends expansion of the ombudsman's functions in large industries, and in engineering societies to support their members; the creation of courts of professional opinion to render binding decisions on technical matters; and legislative approval for censuring legislators if their vote overrides the recommendations of courts of professional opinion and “accidents” happen later.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering
Volume 112 • Issue 2 • April 1986
Pages: 141 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 ASCE.
History
Published online: Apr 1, 1986
Published in print: Apr 1986
Authors
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