Involving Moral and Ethical Principles in Safety Management Systems.

Paul Lindhout,Genserik Reniers

doi:10.3390/ijerph18168511

Abstract

Some organisations, and some individual humans, violate moral and ethical rules, whether or not they are written down in laws or codes of conduct. Corporate transgressions, as this behaviour is called, occur because of the actions of those in charge, usually bright and dedicated people. Immoral and unethical conduct can adversely affect the safety of workers, the general public and the environment. A scoping review method for a literature search is used to explore morality and ethics in relation to health and safety management. Our findings show that controlling the risks associated with misconduct and corporate transgression is not usually seen as a responsibility allocated to safety systems but is left to general management and corporate governance. The moral and ethical principles, however, can be applied in safety management systems to prevent misconduct and transgression-related safety risks. Our results show that ethical leadership, ethical behaviour, sustaining an ethical climate and implementation of an ethical decision-making process emerge as key preventive measures. The discussion presents a proposed way to include these measures in safety management systems. Conclusion and recommendations underline that unwanted behaviour and transgression risks can be brought under control, starting from a set of best practices. Not only the managers themselves but also board members, independent external supervisors and government regulators need to embrace these practices.

Highlights

In some companies and institutions, the people in charge break generally accepted rules
Since the subject at hand is an aspect of a slow-pace development process, different time periods were used to include the development of safety management systems since the nineteen seventies
The findings of this study indicate compromised safety performance [4,5] we observe that none of the sources found indicate the existence of any difference between the possible effects on safety, health, the environment, originating from misconduct and transgression, and possible effects originating from other causality, e.g., pollution, occupational disease and exposure to unsafe working conditions

Summary

Introduction

In some companies and institutions, the people in charge break generally accepted rules. This conduct can have adverse effects for health, safety and the environment. The associated risks are not controlled within company safety management systems and are often regarded, by default, as a direct responsibility of the general management. Against the background of morality and ethics, we explore the nature and possible consequences for health and safety of violations of broadly accepted rules. Impolite or condescending towards someone else, this violates unwritten social rules. The recipients of such behaviour will most likely choose to avoid any further dealings with this individual. The other option would be to file a complaint and find an authority with the ability to enforce proper conduct

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion