Examines AIDS testing in the workplace as an ethical issue.
This paper discusses the concept of workplace safety as an ethical issue and focuses on the problem of AIDS in the work environment. The paper raises issues of privacy, safety and due process and considers the ramifications and necessity of AIDS testing. The paper argues that AIDS testing is unethical and without basis, but does note that one must distinguish between testing when there is probable cause for suspicion, completely random testing, and mass testing of all employees.
“Due to the haphazard workplace regulations that were implemented in the past decade or so the society has seen an increase in work related injuries. The employees have been put at risk time and time again and have at times suffered fatal consequences. At a time when AIDS is a reality and the ability of a person to get the disease so easy and unintentional it becomes prudent to raise the question of whether a person with AIDS should be under an obligation to inform the management of the disease.
“Job-related injuries and illnesses are common and yet, are not appreciated by the management. In 1992 researchers gave the first national estimate of job-related injuries and illnesses in a single year. It was stated that about 6,500 Americans died and 13.2 million were hurt from work-related causes. That toll is an average of 18 deaths and 36,000 injuries a day, compared with government estimates of 17 workers fatally hurt each day and 9,000 non fatally injured.”
“Job-related injuries and illnesses are common and yet, are not appreciated by the management. In 1992 researchers gave the first national estimate of job-related injuries and illnesses in a single year. It was stated that about 6,500 Americans died and 13.2 million were hurt from work-related causes. That toll is an average of 18 deaths and 36,000 injuries a day, compared with government estimates of 17 workers fatally hurt each day and 9,000 non fatally injured.”