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Scope of Engineering Ethics

1. Engineering ethics involves issues that arise on both a micro and macro level. A micro issue is a daily problem faced by engineers, while a macro issue is a larger social problem. An example is presented of an engineer discovering a marginally safe bridge but being asked to stay quiet by his superior. 2. Safety and risk are important responsibilities for engineers. Safety is defined relative to risks, while risk covers unwanted occurrences like harm, economic loss, or environmental damage. The Chernobyl disaster is discussed as a case study where safety procedures were not followed during a nuclear reactor test, leading to catastrophe. 3. Ethical dilemmas can arise when moral reasons come into conflict, such as between rights,

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187 views3 pages

Scope of Engineering Ethics

1. Engineering ethics involves issues that arise on both a micro and macro level. A micro issue is a daily problem faced by engineers, while a macro issue is a larger social problem. An example is presented of an engineer discovering a marginally safe bridge but being asked to stay quiet by his superior. 2. Safety and risk are important responsibilities for engineers. Safety is defined relative to risks, while risk covers unwanted occurrences like harm, economic loss, or environmental damage. The Chernobyl disaster is discussed as a case study where safety procedures were not followed during a nuclear reactor test, leading to catastrophe. 3. Ethical dilemmas can arise when moral reasons come into conflict, such as between rights,

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anissfarhanaa
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SCOPE OF ENGINEERING ETHICS

1. MICRO & MACRO ISSUES

Micro - This approach stresses more on the problems that occur on a daily basis in the
field of engineering and its practice by engineers.
Macro - This approach deals with social problems which are unknown. However,
these problems may unexpectedly face the heat at both regional and national levels.

Case study:
After a recent collapse of a structure in which many people died, an Engineer came to
know about a bridge which is marginally safe. He informed his superior who asked
him to stay calm and not to discuss with anyone, while waiting for the next year
budget sessions to get some financial help for the repair required. What should the
engineer do?

Opinion:
The issues can be resolved by following an investigation procedure, step by step in
order to have a clear understanding towards the issue. Judging the issues has to be
followed by a systematic procedure to avoid any flaws. Engineering ethics involves
investigations into values, meanings and facts. The process can be done by different
types of inquiries which are normal inquiries, conceptual inquiries and factual or
descriptive inquiries.
2. ENGINEERING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SAFETY

Safety - Frequently expressed in terms of degree and comparisons. The words like
fairly-safe and relatively-safe are used where an individual is judged on the basis of
settled values and it is further decided that the risks of anything are more or less
acceptable in comparison with the risks of the other thing.

Risk - A broad concept covering many different types of unwanted occurrences.


When it comes to technology, it can equally well include dangers of bodily harm, of
economic loss or of environmental degradation. These in turn can be caused by
delayed job completion, faulty products or systems or economically or
environmentally injurious solutions to technological problems.

Case Study: The Chernobyl disaster


The reactor unit 4 was to be shut down for routine maintenance on 25 April 1986.
But, it was decided to take advantage of this shutdown to determine whether, in the
event of a loss of station power, the slowing turbine could provide enough electrical
power to operate the main core cooling water circulating pumps, until the diesel
emergency power supply became operative. The aim of this test was to determine
whether cooling of the core could continue in the event of a loss of power.

Due to the misconception that this experiment belongs to the non-nuclear part of the
power plant, it was carried out without a proper exchange of information between the
testing department and the safety department. Hence the test started with inadequate
safety precautions and the operating personnel were not alerted to the nuclear safety
implications of the electrical test and its potential danger.

Opinion:
Any workers, no matter the working field, should abide by the rules and regulations of
the company. The protocol should be followed accordingly to avoid unwanted
incidents. In this one, the test supervisor had jeopardized the company by not
following the safety procedure. By not following a simple rule, the consequences was
enormous.
3. ETHICAL DILEMMA

In certain situation where one cannot make immediate decisions as the moral reasons
come into conflict. It can be rights, duties, goods or obligations, which make the
decision making complex.

Case Study:
How does the doctor decide between cost and care?

Opinion:
Should a pediatrician use less expensive and well- established vaccination product
with adequate reimbursement rather than the newer more expensive version with
better bacterial protection that has a lower profit margin.

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