Nov 11 2009, 03:39 PM
QUOTE(~lynn~ @ Nov 2 2009, 08:51 AM)
Whistle blowing is basically an act of alerting the higher ups when an engineer found out that a product/process produced by the company is unsafe. Internal whistle blowing is to report to the boss/higher-up, while external whistle blowing is to inform to mass media and such.
Ok keeping story short, engineers are supposed to have the public's safety and interest as their main concern. If they found out something that could endanger the public, they should take measures to rectify it. Whistle blowing comes as a last resort.
Now, another concern is that in most of the countries, the law does not protect these whistle blowers. Also, while engineer should focus on public safety, they are naturally more concerned about keeping their job.
Thus the problem and focus of this discussion is that, should or should not one whistle blow? Save the people or save my own job?
Is it possible to compel the government to legislate a law to protect whistle blowers?
Discussable? XD
(I guess the correct tag would be Philosophy?)
As an engineer, you have professional code of conducts and if you know something is obviously wrong but decided to keep quiet, you are equally guilty of the mistake. Also, most whistle blowing act should stop internally because it is in the interest of the company to rectify the problem else they'll get themselves sued into oblivion. Ok keeping story short, engineers are supposed to have the public's safety and interest as their main concern. If they found out something that could endanger the public, they should take measures to rectify it. Whistle blowing comes as a last resort.
Now, another concern is that in most of the countries, the law does not protect these whistle blowers. Also, while engineer should focus on public safety, they are naturally more concerned about keeping their job.
Thus the problem and focus of this discussion is that, should or should not one whistle blow? Save the people or save my own job?
Is it possible to compel the government to legislate a law to protect whistle blowers?
Discussable? XD
(I guess the correct tag would be Philosophy?)
I can't recall which program this was on, but there was once a plane crash due to an inherently unsafe component/maintenance procedure. The engineer responsible flagged the issue up but it was ignored by the company due to additional cost.
In the UK, there are laws, such as this http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/ukpga_20070019_en_1 which would require companies to be responsible.
This post has been edited by Geminist: Nov 11 2009, 03:42 PM
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