Whistle‐Blowing—A Professional Responsibility

Whistle‐blowing is a corrective mechanism through which our practice is adjusted from time to time. The challenge is how our industry could benefit from those individuals whose criticism, when well founded and addressed, leads to significant improvements. A whistle‐blower tries to bring light to a murky environment marked by fear and intimidation, in which there is usually conspiracy to cover up incompetency, mistakes, and possibly criminal behavior. When the safety, health, and welfare of the public is involved, there is much at stake, and how we as a professional organization address this issue is important. A progressive method for addressing the grievances of whistle‐blowers is achieved in private industry. Among some of the Fortune 500 companies, managements have developed self‐policing mechanisms, that have proved to be successful. Whistle‐blowing is a courageous act; however, it is an act of wisdom that determines how we listen to the whistle‐blower's challenges. ASCE should take a clear position in support of whistle‐blowers, and in support of a process that constructively resolves whistle‐blowing conflicts. This paper explores the current status of whistle‐blowers, issues for further discussions, and recommendations for action.