How Safe is Safe? - A Case Study of PPI's Safety Policies and Procedures

1 How Safe is Safe?

1.

PPI’s approach to moral values is clearly identifiable. It is committed to ensuring the

safety of its shareholders, and providing good working conditions. Compared to its competitors, it has the cleanest, most orderly and efficient work environment. Despite not having any major accidents or incidents since it began, PPI goes above and beyond to audit its plant for unsafe conditions, making amendments where necessary. PPI continues to do this annually despite its attorneys’ advice. This shows that despite the opportunity to do the basic minimum which, in essence, would help it cut costs and increase its profit, it is committed to providing the safest working environment for its employees. Its policies contribute to this philosophy by ensuring that external audits are performed by the insurance industry and Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and any necessary improvements and changes are made.

Buy this excellently written paper or order a fresh one from ace-myhomework.com

2

2.

PPI takes a virtue-based approach to safety issues. A virtue-based approach prioritizes

morals, honesty and virtues, as opposed to utilitarian and duty-based approaches that emphasize creating policies guided by rules, regulation and duty (O’Mathúna et al., 2018). This approach to safety issues can be described as being virtue-based because the company goes beyond its legal obligation to provide a conducive work environment for its employees. Over the years of its existence, it has continually shown its commitment to creating a safe work environment by performing yearly audits, as well as making improvements yearly despite the advice of its attorneys. This shows that it acts in the best interests of its employees.

3.

The management of PPI takes its responsibility towards the safety of its employees very

seriously. Every year, the company increases its investment in purchasing new equipment, making repairs and redesigning work-flows. PPI also conducts an annual safety audit against the advice of its attorneys, who feel that this puts the company at risk should there be an injury or claim in the future. This proves that PPI takes its responsibility towards its employees seriously (Sims, 2017). The company’s attorneys, on the other hand, are vehemently opposed to the measures that PPI takes to guarantee its employees’ safety. They feel that the company is going far beyond its duty to its employees. The attorneys are of the view that PPI should change its approach and instead prioritize its own interests. The attorneys hold this view because their responsibility as the company’s legal representatives is to ensure that PPI does not put itself in a position where it could be held liable in case an accident or injury occurs.

4.

The ethics of PPI and the attorneys are in conflict because of their different views

towards employee safety. The attorneys recommend that PPI protects its employees only to the extent that is stipulated by the law. PPI, on the other hand, goes beyond its duty because it seeks

3 to do the right thing for its employees. The attorneys' major interest is to ensure that in case a law suit is brought against the company in the future, they will win. The attorneys have advised PPI that it is against the law to use consultants and external auditors to assess its safety. The president and management are aware of the legal implications of the regular audits, but they believe that it is one of the main reasons that the company has had no significant incidences in its ten years of existence.

4 References O’Mathúna, D.P, Dranseika, V., & Gordijn, B. (2018). Disasters: Core Concepts and Ethical Theories. Springer Sims, R. R. (2017). A Contemporary Look at Business Ethics. IAP.