Whistle Whilst You Work

This weekend has provided some downtime, it feels like a long time since I had the luxury of being able to focus on my own pursuits and afford myself some relaxation. Having pushed myself out in the dark and bitter cold for a 10 mile run. I spent the following morning energising my inner child by building snowmen and snowball fighting.

Invigorated and exhausted I enjoyed a period of rest in front of three engrossing movies. Snowden, The Gentlemen, and Dark Waters. Now as much as I love connecting safety into modern culture, I’m not going to try and tell you that The Gentlemen provides anything OSH related in its content. It’s just a very funny and enjoyable film.

Snowden and Dark Waters on the other hand, both had a significant impact on me. They demonstrate in very different ways, the power of uncommon individuals becoming part of the solution. Showing just what it takes, to make a stand and make a difference. Just what it takes to whistle blow and the impact this can have on the individual brave enough to do so.

Snowden is based on the story of Edward Snowden, the US intelligence analyst who in 2013 went public about America’s spying and data mining. It’s enjoyable as a film but somewhat uncomfortable to think about afterwards, when you consider just how much access agencies like the CIA have to our personal information.

Snowden made me think just how reassuring it is, that in the UK we have legislation that protects whistle blowers. If workers bring information about a wrongdoing to the attention of their employers or a relevant organisation, they are protected in certain circumstances under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. This is commonly referred to as 'blowing the whistle'. The law that protects whistle-blowers is for the public interest - so people can speak out if they find malpractice in an organisation. Blowing the whistle is more formally known as 'making a disclosure in the public interest'.

Qualifying disclosures are disclosures of information where the worker reasonably believes (and it is in the public interest) that one or more of the following matters is either happening, has taken place, or is likely to happen in the future.

• A criminal offence
• The breach of a legal obligation
• A miscarriage of justice
• A danger to the health and safety of any individual
• Damage to the environment
• Deliberate attempt to conceal any of the above.

Dark Waters on the other hand, could be used as a bingo card for the OSH professional, with environmental damage, hazardous waste, COSHH, and occupational health all featuring in the film. I’m not going to ruin the film for those who haven’t seen it, but I can tell you that Rob Bilott, the corporate lawyer-turned-environmental crusader, will become a man you admire. The strength and depth of his fight and resolve is outstanding.

The film centres around a class action suit representing around 70,000 people living near a DuPont chemical plant that allegedly contaminated drinking water with PFOA, a toxic chemical used in the production of Teflon. In recent years, studies have correlated long-term exposure to PFOA with a number of illnesses, including some types of cancer.

You can’t help but feel dismayed watching Dark Waters. As the case unfolds and you learn of the impacts working in the plant had on the lives of the employees. It’s criminal. It certainly drives home the need for both OSH legislation and competent OSH professionals working to protect employees and the wider public. What I found most thought provoking as an OSH professional from watching Dark Waters, is how does this happen?  The tragic answer is profit. In this case billions of dollars.

I hope as an OSH professional that I never find myself in that position, seeing evidence ignored, harm to individuals occurring and no action being taken to prevent it. What I do know, is that if I were in that position, I’d blow the whistle.