Introduction to Ethics for Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) Professionals

This chapter introduces the purpose, philosophy, and structure of the book, emphasizing that ethics is central to Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) practice. It explains how the book is designed for both practitioners and students and outlines key learning objectives, including the application of six ethical lenses, integration of professional codes of conduct, and a structured algorithm for ethical decision-making. The chapter also explains how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and globalization have created new ethical challenges and opportunities, necessitating a modern and systematic approach to ethics. Case studies and a quantitative algorithm are introduced as core tools to bridge theory and practice in this evolving field.