The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) is adopting the Engineering Council’s statement on whistleblowing into its code of conduct, to provide better support for whistleblowers and clarify employers’ obligations.
The new guidance, to be adopted in late 2017, will oblige CIBSE members and employers to act in accordance with the code, and ensure they have proper procedures in place to deal with whistleblowing incidents.
The issue shot to prominence earlier this year when CIOB member Nigel McArthur was awarded £137,000 in compensation from Balfour Beatty for constructive dismissal after he “blew the whistle” over alleged irregularities in a bid process.
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CIBSE said its adoption of the code is intended to enable engineering institutions to support members in the event that they need to “raise a concern, either within the workplace or externally, including a danger, risk, malpractice or wrongdoing, which affects others”.
A statement from the Institution said: “Whistleblowing is a potentially vital mechanism for engineers and technicians, many of whom work in environments and on projects that can seriously endanger the health and lives of members of the public in the event of wrongdoing.
“Professionally, engineers and technicians must deal with the management of risk every day, but the new statement expands this definition to include the ‘inadequate quantification and management of risk’, as well as risk that they are not directly involved in, but that they become aware of during the course of their work.
“Professional institutions are required to set out their policies in a code of conduct, which includes adequate cover for the practice of whistleblowing. However, as charities, engineering institutions such as CIBSE are unable to provide members with representation in the event of action being taken against them by the state, their employer or any other organisation.”
