A regulated member of ASET employed by a consulting environmental engineering firm is asked to...

This scenario represents a direct conflict between a supervisor's order (which essentially commands the suppression of critical environmental data) and the foundational duty of a regulated professional. Under the ASET Code of Ethics, the highest and most absolute obligation is to "Hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public, the protection of the environment..." Hazardous waste, by definition, poses a severe threat to both human health and the ecological environment if left improperly managed or hidden. By instructing the member to remain silent and not inform the client (who owns the property and the liability) or the authorities, the supervisor is commanding the member to facilitate an ongoing environmental hazard. The professional cannot hide behind "confidentiality" or "duty to employer" in this case, because the paramount duty to protect the environment legally and ethically overrides the supervisor's instruction. The member must refuse the order and ensure the hazard is reported and managed correctly.