Business Ethics & Law in Battery Technology Workplaces (Strand 1, Section 1.3)

Regulatory Compliance

Meeting the laws, regulations, permits, and enforceable standards that apply to your work.

Business Operations

Processes allowed, documentation created, and controls built into production and service work based on compliance.

Organizational Performance

The impact of compliance on cost, risk, quality, speed, and reputation.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Written documents that translate laws into specific procedures for adherence.

Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)

Actions taken to fix root causes of identified gaps during audits and inspections.

Housekeeping Standards

Defined schedules and rules aimed at reducing hazards and ensuring a clean work environment.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Safety gear required to protect workers from specific hazards such as chemicals or electrical risks.

Incident Reporting

Procedure to document and communicate any safety or operational incidents to prevent serious issues.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Standardized document explaining a chemical product's hazards and safe handling practices.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Agency focused on protecting the environment, including regulations related to waste management and emissions.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Agency focused on ensuring workplace safety and health compliance.

Quality Assurance (QA)

The system ensuring processes meet defined requirements consistently, enhancing safety and compliance.

Continuous Improvement

Ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes by fixing problems and preventing recurrence.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Law prohibiting discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities, requiring reasonable accommodations.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Federal agency enforcing laws against employment discrimination.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Law setting regulations on minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor.

Minor Labor Laws

Regulations restricting work hours and types of work that minors may perform.

Copyright

Legal protection for original creative works, preventing unauthorized use or distribution.

Patents

Legal rights granted for inventions, preventing unauthorized making, using, or selling.

Trade Secrets

Confidential business information protected as long as steps are taken to keep it secret.

Conflict of Interest

A situation where personal interests could improperly influence professional decisions.

Ethical Decision-Making

A systematic approach to making choices that involve assessing risks, standards, and impacts.

Documentation

Record keeping that supports compliance and ethical decision-making in workplace protocols.

Harassment

Unwelcome conduct based on protected characteristics that creates a hostile work environment.

Clean Work Environment

A workplace maintained through consistent practices to reduce hazards and prevent errors.

Training Logs

Records that document training completed by employees, often required for compliance.

Chemical Hazards

Potential dangers posed by chemicals, including toxicity and reactions with other substances.

Cleaning Protocols

Established methods for maintaining cleanliness to prevent hazards in the workplace.

Ethical Traits

Values such as honesty, integrity, compassion, and justice, important for workplace trust.