Effect of information on risk assessments
The manner in which information necessary for decision making is presented can greatly influence how risks are perceived. Consider this example: In a particular case of disaster management, the only options available are provided in 2 different ways to the public for one to be chosen (where lives of 600 people are at stake). Alternate 1 If program A is followed, 200 people will be saved. If Program B is followed, 1/3 probability is 600 people will be saved and 2/3 probability that nobody will be saved. Response 72% of the target group chose option A and 28% option B Alternate 2 If program A is followed, 400 people will die. If Program B is followed, 1/3 probability is…
What degree of risk is acceptable?
Safety is a matter of how people would find risks acceptable or unacceptable, if they knew the risks, and are basing their judgments on their most settled value perspective. So, to this extent, it is objective. Perspectives differ. To this…
Concept of Safety
1. “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for” – John A. Shedd 2. ‘A thing is safe if its risks are judged to be acceptable’ - William W. Lawrence We buy an ill-designed Iron box in a sale-> Underestimating risk We judge fluoride in water can kill lots of people -> Overestimating risk We hire a taxi, without thinking about its safety -> Not estimating risk How does a judge pass a judgement on safety in these 3 cases? ….So, this definition won't do in…
SAFETY AND RISK
Imagine you are a fresh graduate. You get a job as an engineer in a large atomic power plant. Would you take it or not? Under what conditions would you take it? Under what conditions would you not? Why? People as Consumers: Active Consumers: directly involve themselves e.g., mowing the lawn, washing clothes or toasting bread. Passive Consumers: have less choice and less control e.g., Water, Electricity, Petrol, Bystanders: e.g., exposed to Pollution from unknown sources .What is safe to Entrepreneurs, may not be so to Engineers. e.g., Pilots: "Indian Airports are not safe; Low Vision in Fog“ What is safe to Engineers, may not be so to Public. e.g., Top loading Washing Machine…
The problems of law in engineering
1. The greatest problem of law in engg is of ‘minimal compliance’. Engineers and employers can search for loop holes in the law to barely keep to its letter while violating its spirit. Engineers will tend to refer to standard readymade specifications rather than come up with innovative ideas. Minimal compliance led to the tragedy of the ‘Titanic’. 2. Continually updating laws and regulations may be counter-productive and will make law always lag behind technology. This also overburdens the rules and regulators. 3. Many laws are ‘non-laws’ i.e. laws without enforceable sanctions. These merely serve as window dressing, frequently gives a false sense of security to the public. 4. The opponents of the law may burden it intentionally with many unreasonable provisions that a repeal will not be far off. 5. Highly powerful organizations, like the government can violate the laws when they think they can get away with it by inviting would be challengers, to face them in lengthy and costly court proceedings. This also creates frustration with the law.
Limitations of Codes of Ethics
1. Codes are restricted to general and vague wording. They cannot be straightaway applied to all situations. It is impossible to foresee the full range of moral problems that can arise in a complex profession like engg. 2. It is easy for different clauses of codes to come into conflict with each other. Usually codes provide no guidance as to which clause should have priority in those cases, creating moral dilemmas. 3. They cannot serve as the final moral authority for professional conduct. If the code of a professional society is taken as the last word, it means that we are getting into a particular set of conventions i.e. ethical conventionalism. 4. Andrew Oldenquist and Edward Slowter pointed out how the existence of separate codes for different professional societies can give members the feeling that ethical conduct is more relative than it is and that it can convey to the public the view that none is ‘really right’. The current codes are by no means perfect but are definitely steps in the right direction.
Relative importance of the various functions of codes of ethics
The perspective of engg as social experimentation clearly emphasizes the primary role ‘supportive function’ of the codes of ethics. This is so because, only this support enables engineers, speak out clearly and openly their views, to those affected by engg projects. The, ‘inspiration and guidance’ and ‘educative’ functions are also important in promoting mutual understanding and in motivating engineers to act with higher moral standards. The ‘disciplinary’ function in engg codes is of secondary importance. Those with unethical conduct when exposed are subject to law. Developing elaborate paralegal procedures within professional societies duplicates a function which can be done better by legal system. At best, codes should try to discipline engineers in areas which are not covered by law. The worst abuse of codes has been to restrict honest moral effort in the name of ‘preserving profession’s public mage’ and ‘protecting status quo’. The best way to increase trust is by encouraging and aiding engineers to speak freely and responsibly about public safety.
ENGINEERING CODES OF ETHICS
Engineering Codes of Ethics have evolved over time EARLY CODES • Codes of personal behavior • Codes for honesty in business dealings and fair business practices • Employee/employer relations NEWER CODES • Emphasize commitments to safety, public health and environmental protection • Express the rights, duties and obligations of members of the Profession • Do not express new ethical principles, but coherently restate existing standards of responsible engineering practice • Create an environment within the Profession where ethical behavior is the norm…
