If you worked for a company who is in violation of the EPA.?

Question

One morning, your superior forgot to start the pollution control device, and the designated amount of pollution was exceeded.Should you report the correct figures to the EPA? Know that you might be fired. Would your answer be different if you knew whether or not the excessive pollution caused any damage?

Answer 1

Ethical question no doubt.

Been there, done that.

Whistle blower protection isn't all it should be. A law put in place to say there "is a law in place" and rarely works for the employee within smaller companies. An incident would have to have a major impact for this to apply. EPA violations happen everyday of every week of every month. Usually fines are imposed, very few heads roll within the companies that make these violations. Because these companies HAVE to exist. A paradox of sorts.

Shouldn't that monitor remain ON at all times anyway? Just curious here but is it treated waste-water or air emissions?

If your Supervisor is to monitor such a device then to protect yourself I would follow protocol on this and go to him/her first.

Be as tactful as you can, respect his/her position so you don't cause insult to injury here. Hopefully this was a resent enough EPA violation and not significant enough to have to contact the EPA.

Allow your Supervisor the benefit of the doubt and error. These levels are monitored by the EPA and they will be contacting whatever company you work for if the pollution level was significant enough to register.

Since YOU do work at whatever industry then ONLY you know if this is in direct violation. Address it ASAP if you feel it has a potential to harm the surrounding atmosphere or local stream life.

I hope this helped...........

Answer 2

Do the right thing. These laws are there to protect the well being of American citizens. If you cover it up and get caught then you will be an accomplice of this illegal act. If you don't you could lose your job, however, you would have a case for an illegal termination. You have to remember, there maybe an elderly resident in the area, that might have had serious health consequence due to your Superior's incompetence. How many times has your superior done this without your knowledge? Sometimes things don't always go they way you perceive they will, you maybe a hero if you make the right decision and your superior gets reprimanded or fired, you may get promoted. This company, I'm sure, will hate to have any bad public relations problems. You would be better served as a whistle blower in this case, then part of the problem. Good Luck..

Answer 3

I wouldn't report the issue unless the superior did it on purpose. It is one thing to make a mistake but quite another to do something on purpose.

Everyone makes mistakes and a certain amount of them are expected. For example, when you fill out your taxes, when you drive, you probably make your share. How would you like it if somebody you knew turned you in for an error you made.

Reserve your use of Government for REAL abuse.

Answer 4

It would depend on the likelihood of any environmental damage and the extent. No harm no foul, right? If there is damage could you live with yourself?

Answer 5

I would report it. If it comes down later that you knew and didn't report it, it is your job anyways. You can report it anonymously and if you lose your job, go after them for wrongful termination.

Answer 6

if youre involved in any way with the accuracy of reports. then you must to protect your own assets. i was in nuclear industrial waste handling/disposal. every letter of every report was double checked by me, b4 i put my name to it period. do the same, the life and career you save may well be your own!

Answer 7

Better yet, use that as a bargaining chip for your next review.

Answer 8

the whistleblower act protects you