Ethics and accountability in job descriptions

Ethics and Accountability, Job Description

Ethics and accountability

As manager in the Department of Labor, one relies heavily on their staff members to adequately carry on and implement the adopted policies, as well to test their applicability and results within the actual labor force, and to identify problems that still require resolutions. Such would be the general responsibility of a Department of Labor Inspector, namely the Health and Safety Inspector, and an important role in this function is played by the ability to operate under the norms of ethical behavior and accountability.

Job description

Work activities

Taking measurements, photographs, video recordings.

Arranging for any testing, examination or analysis to be carried out at the workplace.

Giving on site advice as appropriate during inspection visits.

Educating and guiding both the workforce and the employer in health and safety matters.

Writing reports on findings, and suggestions for changes needed to comply with legislation.

Raising the profile of health and safety at the workplace.

Work conditions

Travel: during work day is frequent as well as working away from home.

Working hours: regular extra hours but not weekends or shifts.

Location: in towns or cities throughout the country. Health and safety inspectors can find themselves outside in all weathers or in office and production environments with employees of all levels.

Opportunities for self-employment: not possible though opportunities to work freelance as a health and safety consultant exist.

Career development

Opportunities exist to enter into safety consultancy and safety training.

Source: Grad Ireland

Ethical responsibilities

Responsibility

Description

Ethical implications

Successful completion

Professional ethics

1.

No discrimination

Equality of all people, regardless of any socio-economic criteria

Social injustice

Operation based on imposed standards and norms

2.

Continued education

Personal and social development

Inability to keep up with the changing environment

Engagement and commitment in individual and organized learning programs

Organizational ethics

3.

No conflicts of interest

Damaged reputation and trust in the system

Transparency and application of all norms and standards

4.

Information privacy

Nondisclosure of data, unless under strict and legal circumstances

Loss of trust in the agency, lawsuits

Data confidentiality

5.

Written contracts of terms

Clarity in all operations and transparency

Ambiguity, loss of trust, complaints, lawsuits, safety issues

Social ethics

6.

Community well-being

This should always represent the focal point of the operations

Its neglect could lead to public damage of health and safety

Continuous application of norms and standards

7.

No gifts and bribery

Decision making only based on safety and health criteria

Damaged institutional reputation, loss of society trust, endangered safety

Operating based on solid criteria of performance, health and safety

8.

Acting in good faith (American Society of Home Inspectors, 2004)

Objectivity and decision making based on strict criteria

Loss of trust, damaged reputation, endangered community safety and well-being

Decision making based on solid criteria and standards

Individual ethics

9.

Integrity

Honesty and strength in applying moral principles

Endangerment of community health and safety; institutional damage

Always acting based on moral and ethical principles of conduct

10.

Truthfulness

Open and transparent communications

Lack of trust in the institution

Application of honesty principles

Accountability

Aside from the technical specifications of the job and the ethical responsibilities, an important part in the successful completion if the inspector position is represented by the accountabilities associated with the job. Some of these accountabilities are listed in the table below:

Accountability

Accountability for responsibility

Accountability by the public and public administrators

1.

Business development

Demand for contribution to regional development

Level of involvement and results

2.

Information and education

Transparent communication of all information of interest

Nature of communications

3.

Investigations

Adequate and thorough investigations

Results

4.

Collaborations with other entities

Internal and external collaborations

Efforts to advance institutional goals

Level of involvement from the inspector and the personal and institutional results obtained

5.

Self-management

Planning and organizing to attain personal and institutional goals

Results obtained within the community

Source: Department of Labor

All in all, to become a suitable inspector of health and safety matters within the Department of Labor, it is necessary for the individual to possess vast knowledge and expertise in the field, but also to possess professional and personal traits of responsibility, ethics and accountability.