Homework due on 3/5/2020
Assignment: As part of your homework, respond to the case study. Identify 3 clear ideals that are most important to you. Write a summary about the ethical dilemma. What would you do? Justify your decision on the basis of the ideals you listed, obligations, and consequences involved. Be prepared to share your discoveries in class. Post the ideals and your summary on Edmodo.
Case Study: You are an assistant structural engineer working on the construction of a nuclear power plant in a developing country. After years of construction delays and cost overruns, the plant finally has received its limited operating license from the country’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
During your final inspection of the nuclear core containment unit, on February 15, you discover a ten-foot-long hairline crack in a section of the reinforced concrete floor, within twenty feet of the area where the cooling pipes enter the containment unit. (The especially cold and snowless winter likely has caused a frost heave under a small part of the foundation.) The crack has either just appeared or was overlooked by NRC inspectors on February 10. The crack could be perfectly harmless, caused by normal settling of the structure; and this is, after all, a “redundant” containment system (a shell within a shell). But, then again, the crack might also signal some kind of serious stress on the entire containment unit, which ultimately could damage the entry and exit cooling pipes or other vital structures.
You phone your boss, who is just about to leave on vacation and who tells you, “Forget it; no problem,” and hangs up.
You know that if the crack is reported, the whole start-up process scheduled for February 16 will be delayed indefinitely. More money will be lost; excavation, reinforcement, and further testing will be required—and many people with a stake in this project (from company executives to construction officials to shareholders) will be furious—especially if your report turns out to be a false alarm. All segments of plant management are geared up for the final big moment. Media coverage will be widespread. As the bearer of bad news—and bad publicity—you suspect that, even if you turn out to be right, your own career could be damaged by your apparent overreaction.
On the other hand, ignoring the crack could compromise the system’s safety, with unforeseeable consequences. Of course, no one would ever be able to implicate you. The NRC has already inspected and approved the containment unit—leaving you, your boss, and your company in the clear. You have very little time to decide. Start-up is scheduled for tomorrow, at which time the containment system will become intensely radioactive.
Response:
My 3 ideals are
1. Safety of local citizens and plant workers 2. Clear conscience for myself 3. Take Responsibility as a worker to report This is a challenging situation, but I feel like my career is more secure if I make the call out. I may get fired if it turns out to be nothing, but there are a lot of companies that prioritize safety, so I know that I could get a job somewhere else where call outs on safety like this are more welcome. Most importantly, I would call this crack out, mostly because I wouldn't want people die. On a more personal level, I would call the crack out because I wouldn't want to live with a guilty conscience, whether or not people get hurt, I would be putting millions of lives at risk if I didn't call it out. I may not get implicated in sharing the blame for a possible breakdown, but I feel that it would still look bad on me, and I would feel extremely guilty. As someone working on this project, it is my responsibility as well as my colleagues to make the call out on this, because it deals with safety and the lives of many.
Case Study: You are an assistant structural engineer working on the construction of a nuclear power plant in a developing country. After years of construction delays and cost overruns, the plant finally has received its limited operating license from the country’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
During your final inspection of the nuclear core containment unit, on February 15, you discover a ten-foot-long hairline crack in a section of the reinforced concrete floor, within twenty feet of the area where the cooling pipes enter the containment unit. (The especially cold and snowless winter likely has caused a frost heave under a small part of the foundation.) The crack has either just appeared or was overlooked by NRC inspectors on February 10. The crack could be perfectly harmless, caused by normal settling of the structure; and this is, after all, a “redundant” containment system (a shell within a shell). But, then again, the crack might also signal some kind of serious stress on the entire containment unit, which ultimately could damage the entry and exit cooling pipes or other vital structures.
You phone your boss, who is just about to leave on vacation and who tells you, “Forget it; no problem,” and hangs up.
You know that if the crack is reported, the whole start-up process scheduled for February 16 will be delayed indefinitely. More money will be lost; excavation, reinforcement, and further testing will be required—and many people with a stake in this project (from company executives to construction officials to shareholders) will be furious—especially if your report turns out to be a false alarm. All segments of plant management are geared up for the final big moment. Media coverage will be widespread. As the bearer of bad news—and bad publicity—you suspect that, even if you turn out to be right, your own career could be damaged by your apparent overreaction.
On the other hand, ignoring the crack could compromise the system’s safety, with unforeseeable consequences. Of course, no one would ever be able to implicate you. The NRC has already inspected and approved the containment unit—leaving you, your boss, and your company in the clear. You have very little time to decide. Start-up is scheduled for tomorrow, at which time the containment system will become intensely radioactive.
Response:
My 3 ideals are
1. Safety of local citizens and plant workers 2. Clear conscience for myself 3. Take Responsibility as a worker to report This is a challenging situation, but I feel like my career is more secure if I make the call out. I may get fired if it turns out to be nothing, but there are a lot of companies that prioritize safety, so I know that I could get a job somewhere else where call outs on safety like this are more welcome. Most importantly, I would call this crack out, mostly because I wouldn't want people die. On a more personal level, I would call the crack out because I wouldn't want to live with a guilty conscience, whether or not people get hurt, I would be putting millions of lives at risk if I didn't call it out. I may not get implicated in sharing the blame for a possible breakdown, but I feel that it would still look bad on me, and I would feel extremely guilty. As someone working on this project, it is my responsibility as well as my colleagues to make the call out on this, because it deals with safety and the lives of many.
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