In an informal online poll conducted in May/June 2012, Safety+Health readers were polled on whether they had ever been asked by an employer to violate their ethics as safety professionals.
Comments from respondents answering “Yes”
It wasn't what "management" wanted to do.
I have witnessed a worker going inside machinery without locking out. I was asked to not report it. They were afraid they would lose their job. I had to explain that not saying anything wasn't an option.
There were many ways we could have implemented fall protection for our employees climbing extension ladders but, the company didn't want to spend the money. It was less than 500 dollars for the system. This was one example of not putting hte employee first
was not allowed to take an employee to the ER when needed.
Would rather keep this to myself
Project Manager said he was ultimately responsible for safety, so he was over-riding me to put employees in an unsafe excavation. We both called our Directors. Crew did not enter. Bully.
I have had two previous assaults but does the employer care not really . They get security " So called security to make it look like they are protecting the nurses and other staff" Really so when you get assaulted what do they do, "Nothing, Who cares.Right
There was no legislation to support the findings documented.
Too costly to fix.
Employer asked me to find safety violations for all of the smokers in the company in order to facilitate their termination, resulting in a workforce free of smokers and thus lowering health insurance premiums for the company.
They were trying to get a job done
At the outset the did not understand that I could not do it. When I explained why they were aatisfied with the answer.
I (have no idea what his motivation/manipulation could be...and I of course did NOT do it. He made certain my worklife miserable (until he was no longer a part of it).
Something as simple as misreporting on the OSHA Logs to trying to talk employees out of going to the doctor after an injury.
The drive for a low incident rate outweighs doing the right thing.
Our Incident Rate was too high to be able to bid on some industrial projects so I was asked not to record some OSHA recordable incidents. Obviously I would not do it.
Hide or misclassify truck accidents
Why did the employer ask me to violate my code of ethics? Probably because they were stupid, ill informed or just greedy.
Temporarily look the other way with regards to a safety risk in order to get product out the door
Not record an injury on our OSHA log.
Money!!!
Comment from respondents answering “No”
I can only assume management: Holds the same values and work ethics; and Knows my work character and dedication to duty.