School of Chemical Engineering

CHE 4581

Senior Seminar

Engineering Ethics School of Chemical Engineering

Skywalk Collapse

On July 17, 1981, two suspended walkways in the Hyatt

Regency Kansas City collapsed during a party killing 116

people and injuring 214.

https://www.structuremag.org/?p=10274 School of Chemical Engineering

Challenger Explosion

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger was

destroyed, and seven astronauts died in an explosion of the

orbiter's main tanks.

https://www.space.com/18084-space-shuttle-challenger.html School of Chemical Engineering

BP Texas City Refinery Explosion

On March 23, 2005, an explosion at the BP Texas City Refinery

killed 15 people and injured more than 170.

https://www.csb.gov/bp-america-refinery-explosion/ School of Chemical Engineering

Deepwater Horizon

On April 20, 2010, the explosions and fire led to the deaths

of 11 individuals, serious physical injuries to 17 others, the

evacuation of 115 individuals from the rig, the sinking of the

Deepwater Horizon, and massive marine and coastal damage

from a reported 4 million barrels of released hydrocarbons.

https://www.csb.

gov/macondo-

blowout-and-

explosion//nAs described in the handout, "Ethics - Examining Your Engineering Responsibility",

Deborah L. Grubbe with Operations and Safety Solutions, LLC states that "Engineering

ethics frequently has nothing to do with technology and everything to do with

communication, thought and decision-making patterns, and conflicts around time and

money." With that in mind, read over your assigned Case Study (assignment table and

case studies listed below) and decide what your conclusion would be, based on the

NSPE Code of Ethics (attached at the end). List the NSPE Code of Ethics that apply to the

Case Study shown below and the Conclusion. The Conclusion should clearly answer the

Question for the Case Study and be supported by a brief (1-2 paragraph) Discussion.

Follow the example shown in the notes and use the following format for your write-up:

Facts:

Question:

CHE 4581 Engineering Ethics Homework

Due 3:00 pm October 25, 2022

(Submit on Canvas and bring a copy to class)

NSPE Code of Ethics References:

Discussion:

Conclusion:/nCase Study #2

Facts:

Engineer A is a professional engineer in private practice. Development Contractor X

(Contractor) for whom Engineer A works from time-to-time as a consultant, was asked

by a local building inspector to have a foundation the Contractor built inspected by a

Professional Engineer since the foundation had cracks that were visible to the inspector.

Since Engineer A's firm designed the house foundation for the Contractor, Engineer A

performed the inspection for the Contractor. Engineer A determined the foundation had

some minor surface cracks but nothing that Engineer A considered unsafe. In Engineer

A's estimation, the cracks were not unusual for the type of foundation involved.

Engineer A sends the building inspector a letter (which Engineer A also sealed) stating

that Engineer A had inspected the foundation and in Engineer A's professional opinion,

the foundation was structurally safe. The building inspector responded with a letter to

the contractor stating he was not accepting Engineer A's letter and told the contractor

to hire another engineer to inspect the foundation.

Question:

Was it ethical for Engineer A to inspect his own work or should an independent

professional engineer be retained to inspect Engineer A's work?