Example
A cleaner within a hospital has noticed that new cleaning chemicals for the hospital have come in without appropriate labels and are a different colour to the type which has previously been used. The cleaner understands from their colleagues that they are to fill up previous labelled bottles with this new solution.
The cleaner approaches their line manager about the issue as they are concerned about the safety of these products.
The manager knows that issues arising within the cleaning team would typically be looked at by the same individual who is responsible for ordering the cleaning products. They recognise the potential conflict in this, and suggest to the cleaner that the concern be raised through the whistleblowing procedure as this would allow for greater flexibility and nuance in how an investigation would be handled. They also assure the cleaner that the procedure would provide support and protection from victimisation.
The cleaner agrees and the manager records a stage 1 concern, exploring what support the cleaner may require. The manager makes enquiries, and establishes that there has been an oversight in the procurement process, which they escalate to the procurement manager for further consideration. The manager closes the case at stage 1, but informs the cleaner that they can escalate this to a stage 2 concern if they do not think that this concern has been resolved.