Occupational hygiene and ethics in
Southern Africa
Prof. Cas J Badenhorst
SAIOH President
Index
• Ethics and Conduct
• SAIOH’s Code of Conduct
• SAIOH’s Code of Ethics
• SAIOH’s Disciplinary Code
• Case studies
• Ethical challenges for occupational hygiene in SA
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Ethics & Conduct
Ethics
“Moral, right, principled, honest, correct, proper, decent, fair, good,
virtuous, noble, etc.”
The Oxford Thesaurus
Thus, are we working correct, honestly and fair?
Conduct
Behavior, actions, demeanor, manners, deportment, comportment,
attitude, guidance, direction, manage, operate, guide, behave, act,
etc.”
The Oxford Thesaurus
Thus, how do we do our work?
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Ethics in SAIOH
SAIOH Quality Manual
Chapter 3: Code of Ethics
Procedure 1k: SAIOH Complaints
Procedure
Form 1c: SAIOH Complaints Form
Form 3a: Code of Ethics
Chapter 2: Code of Conduct
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SAIOH’s Code of Conduct
Members of the Institute must, at all times, conduct themselves
in accordance with the PCB’s Code of Ethics. They must uphold
the dignity and reputation of the profession of Occupational
Hygiene and safeguard the public interest in matters of health
and safety. They must exercise their professional skill and
judgement to the best of their ability and discharge their
responsibility with integrity.
If any member refuses or wilfully neglects to comply with any of
these procedures or has been, in the opinion of the PCB, guilty
of conduct injurious to the Institute, such member may, by a
resolution of the PCB, be removed from membership. The PCB
will give 3 months notice of the intended resolution for the
members removal and will afford the member an opportunity to
submit any explanation or defence. The name and recorded
address of a certified member expelled under this procedure
may be published as per the PCB’s decision.
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SAIOH’s Code of Ethics
for the professional practice of occupational hygiene
OBJECTIVE
To set standards of professional and ethical conduct for
certified members of the Southern African Institute for
Occupational Hygiene in order for them to act professionally
and with integrity, at all times, for the benefit of workers, the
public, employers, clients and the environment.
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SAIOH’s Code of Ethics
for the professional practice of occupational hygiene
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
• SAIOH QMS Chapter 3: 6.(i) – (vii)
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE WORKES, THE
PUBLIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT
• SAIOH QMS Chapter 3: 7.(i) – (iv)
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO EMPLOYERS AND
CLIENTS
• SAIOH QMS Chapter 3: 8.(i) – (v)
Adapted from the International Occupational Hygiene Association’s Code of Ethics
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SAIOH’s Disciplinary Code
SAIOH’s compliant procedure
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On SAIOH Complaint form
To SAIOH CAO and President
President to appoint Chairperson
Convene Ethics Committee
Investigate complaint & Sanity check
Copy sent to member
Not resolved, to Ethics Committee
Review, and decide on resolutions
Dismiss complaint/ reprimand/ suspend or, SAIOH
membership be revoked
• Report back: Member, Complainant, Client, SAIOH
President
• Appeal procedure
• Finalise
Other occupational hygiene bodies
Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists
• Responsibilities to Employers, Workforce, General Public.
• Responsibilities of Consultants
British Occupational Hygiene Society
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General integrity of behaviour
Professional opinions
Competence
Confidentiality
Conflicts of interest
American Board of Industrial Hygiene
• Responsibilities to ABIH, the profession and the public
• Responsibilities to clients, employers, employees and the public
Case studies
• Quarterly DMR submission data duplication
• SAIOH registered Occupational Hygienist but not a accredited
AIA doing work as an Occupational Hygienist
• Post-graduate Masters student (in the discipline of
occupational hygiene) using historical collected personal
exposure results as part of her studies without approval of the
Ethical Committee of the University.
Challenges
• Non-registered individuals presented themselves as / using the
title of “Occupational Hygienist”
• Individuals working in the area of occupational hygiene in
absence of any Code of Ethics
• Candidates that don’t pass the SAIOH PCB exams
• Impact of risk levels being determined by the results of
occupational hygiene measurements
• Absence of Ethics in current occupational hygiene training
• Small occupational hygiene community
• Responsibilities of Consultants
• Southern Africa countries
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Questions?