Ethical decision-making, made defensible.
A structured framework for high-stakes professional and organizational decisions, including the new ethical questions raised by AI.
Without a framework, ethical decisions create exposure.
THE PROBLEM
Most organizational decisions involving ethics are made inconsistently, under time pressure, and without a documented framework.
The result is exposure: legal, operational, and reputational.
That exposure is now amplified by the introduction of AI into decision processes.
OUR APPROACH
Applied Ethics Advisors provides a structured methodology that converts ethical judgment into a disciplined, documented, and defensible process.
Decisions can be clearly explained, consistently applied, and supported by clear, documented reasoning.
A structured framework for defensible decisions
At the core of our work is a methodology that brings clarity and consistency to complex situations. It integrates:
Multiple ethical lenses
Professional codes of conduct
Risk and consequence analysis
Organizational and authority dynamics
It is operationalized through structured case analysis, applied training programs, and supporting decision-analysis tools.
Designed for real-world conditions — where decisions must be made under uncertainty and stand up to review.
TOOL SUPPORT
The framework is supported by a structured decision-analysis tool that allows users to apply the methodology in real time and generate a documented, step-by-step record of the reasoning behind a decision.
AI is creating new ethical risk. Decision frameworks have not kept pace.
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating new categories of ethical exposure — often without clear decision frameworks to guide its use or assign accountability when things go wrong.
We provides:
AI ethics protocols and code-of-conduct integration
Structured analysis of AI-driven decision scenarios
Executive and team training on ethical AI use
AI introduces speed and scale to decision-making. Our role is to ensure it does not erode judgment, accountability, or defensibility.
PUBLISHED WORK
Ethical Decision-Making in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: A Comparative Case Study Approach
Mark A. Katchen and Elizabeth Anne Thomas
Wiley · 2026
A structured, case-based methodology for analyzing and resolving complex ethical decisions in professional settings. Developed within occupational and environmental health and safety, the framework applies broadly to organizational, regulatory, and high-stakes decision environments.
Rather than presenting abstract principles, the book demonstrates how ethical decisions are made in practice, integrating multiple lenses, professional codes, and real-world constraints into a disciplined, defensible process.
Course
Advanced Ethical Leadership — A 5-Hour, BCSP-Aligned Course
A live, intensive course on ethical decision-making for safety and OEHS professionals, designed to meet the BCSP 5-hour ethics requirement. Delivered through the NIOSH Southern California Education and Research Center at UCLA and led by Mark Katchen, SCERC Ethics Program Director. Includes the Wiley textbook, access to the Ethical Decision Analyzer, and a certificate of completion. Launching fall 2026.
About
Mark A. Katchen, MS, MBA, CIH, FAIHA
Founder and Principal Advisor
Mark A. Katchen has 35+ years of experience in occupational and environmental health and safety, a field where high-stakes decisions are routinely made under uncertainty with significant legal, operational, and human consequences.
He serves as Program Director for Ethics at the UCLA NIOSH Southern California Educational Resource Center, where he develops and leads ethics education for health and safety professionals.
He is the co-author of Ethical Decision-Making in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety: A Comparative Case Study Approach (Wiley, 2026).
Services
Engagements are available for organizations, professional associations, and academic institutions.
Speaking & Executive Briefings
Keynotes, panel presentations, and executive sessions on applied ethics, ethical decision-making frameworks, and the organizational implications of AI. Tailored for professional associations, leadership teams, and industry conferences. Recent engagements include AAOHN 2026, AIHA Connect 2026, the ASSP podcast, ISHN, and the UCLA Ethics Roundtable (2026).
Organizational Framework Integration
Embedding a structured ethical decision-making methodology into existing organizational processes, policies, and professional development programs. Designed for institutions that need defensible, consistent practice at scale.
Applied Ethics Workshops
Intensive, case-based workshops that build practical ethical reasoning skills through structured analysis of real-world scenarios. Suitable for teams, professional cohorts, and graduate-level programs.
Contact for speaking, training, or advisory engagements
To request information about speaking, training, or advisory engagements, please contact:
© 2026 Applied Ethics Advisors, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Applied Ethics Advisors provides education, training, and advisory services on ethical decision-making frameworks. Its materials, methodology, and decision-analysis tools are intended to support professional judgment, not replace it, and do not constitute legal advice.