Ethical Dilemma – Personal Ethics Johnstown Ltd, with several major manufacturing plants, is one of the largest makers of cast-iron water and sewer pipes in the UK. In one of the nation’s most dangerous industries, Johnstown Ltd is perhaps one of the most unsafe, with four times the injury rate of its six competitors combined. Its worker death rate is six times the industry average. In a recent 7-year period, Johnstown Ltd was also found to be in violation of pollution and emission limits 450 times. Workers who protest dangerous work conditions claim they are “bull’s-eyed” - marked for termination of employment. Supervisors have bullied injured workers and intimidated union leaders. Line workers who fail to make daily quotas get disciplinary actions. Managers have put up safety signs after a worker was injured to make it appear that the worker ignored posted policies. They doctor safety records and alter machines to cover up hazards. When the government investigated one worker’s death recently, inspectors found the Johnstown Ltd policy “was not to correct anything until OSHA found it.” Johnstown Ltd plants have also been repeatedly fined for failing to stop production to repair broken pollution controls. Three plants have been designated “high-priority” violators by the HSE. Inside the plants, workers have repeatedly complained of blurred vision, severe headaches, and respiratory problems after being exposed, without training or protection, to chemicals used in the production process. Near one Midlands plant, school crossing patrols have had to wear gas masks; that location alone has averaged over a violation every month for 7 years. Johnstown’s “standard procedure,” according to a former plant manager, is to illegally dump industrial contaminants into local rivers and creeks. Workers wait for night or heavy rainstorms before flushing thousands of gallons from their sump pumps. Given the following scenarios, what is your position, and what action should you take? a) On your spouse’s recent move to the area, you accepted a job, perhaps somewhat naively, as a company nurse in one of the Johnstown plants. After 2 weeks on the job, you became aware of the work environment noted above. b) You are a contractor who has traditionally used Johnstown’s products, which meet specifications. Johnstown is consistently the low bidder. Your customers are happy with the product. c) You are Johnstown’s banker. d) You are a supplier to Johnstown.

Ethical Dilemma – Personal Ethics
Johnstown Ltd, with several major
manufacturing plants, is one of the largest
makers of cast-iron water and sewer pipes
in the UK. In one of the nation’s most
dangerous industries, Johnstown Ltd is
perhaps one of the most unsafe, with four
times the injury rate of its six competitors
combined. Its worker death rate is six times
the industry average. In a recent 7-year
period, Johnstown Ltd was also found to be
in violation of pollution and emission limits 450 times.
Workers who protest dangerous work conditions claim they are “bull’s-eyed” - marked for
termination of employment. Supervisors have bullied injured workers and intimidated union
leaders. Line workers who fail to make daily quotas get disciplinary actions. Managers have
put up safety signs after a worker was injured to make it appear that the worker ignored
posted policies. They doctor safety records and alter machines to cover up hazards. When
the government investigated one worker’s death recently, inspectors found the Johnstown
Ltd policy “was not to correct anything until OSHA found it.” Johnstown Ltd plants have also
been repeatedly fined for failing to stop production to repair broken pollution controls.
Three plants have been designated “high-priority” violators by the HSE. Inside the plants,
workers have repeatedly complained of blurred vision, severe headaches, and respiratory
problems after being exposed, without training or protection, to chemicals used in the
production process. Near one Midlands plant, school crossing patrols have had to wear gas
masks; that location alone has averaged over a violation every month for 7 years.
Johnstown’s “standard procedure,” according to a former plant manager, is to illegally
dump industrial contaminants into local rivers and creeks. Workers wait for night or heavy
rainstorms before flushing thousands of gallons from their sump pumps.
Given the following scenarios, what is your position, and what action should you take?
a) On your spouse’s recent move to the area, you accepted a job, perhaps somewhat
naively, as a company nurse in one of the Johnstown plants. After 2 weeks on the
job, you became aware of the work environment noted above.
b) You are a contractor who has traditionally used Johnstown’s products, which
meet specifications. Johnstown is consistently the low bidder. Your customers are
happy with the product.
c) You are Johnstown’s banker.
d) You are a supplier to Johnstown.