Chemical Engineering October 2015 - 55

enGineerinG ethics resources.
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Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science (www.onlineethics.org)
The Center for the Study of Ethics in Society at Western Michigan University (www.wmich.edu/ethics)
The national Society of Professional Engineers (www.nspe.org/resources/ethics)
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (www.aiche.org/about/code-ethics)
American Chemical Society (www.acs.org)
Institution of Chemical Engineers (www.icheme.org)
Ohio University (engineeringmastersonline.ohio.edu/articles-and-resources)
valve open; and we've got a real problem on
our hands. We lost a lot of caustic down the
drain. What time was it when you opened
the valve? " Rick answers, " Carl, I don't remember.
I have been real tired all day. Pulled
an all-nighter getting ready for my exam tonight,
and I was just wiped out when I went
to work. I think I turned it on near the end
of my shift, but I just cannot be sure. I can't
believe I forgot to turn it off! " Rick pauses
and takes a deep breath, " Man, I can't afford
trouble right now. Jan's pregnant again, and
I have another semester to go. "
now that Carl has located the problem,
what should he say to his plant manager,
kevin Rourke?
1. Acknowledge responsibility for failing to
have C-2 checked earlier?
2.Identify Rick as the one who left the valve
open?
3.Other?
What should Carl Lawrence do about Rick
duffy? If propping open a pump switch of
an acid tank warrants immediate termination,
should Carl fire Rick for leaving open
the caustic valve?
Yes or no?
To what extent, if any, should Carl be influenced
by his friendship with Rick?
none? Some?
To what extent should Carl be influenced
by his knowledge that Rick needs to keep
his job? none ? Some?
Western Michigan University. Originally created
with support from the NSF grant #DIR8820837.)
ABC's
chemical waste is stored in a warehouse
at an off-site location. While inspecting
the warehouse, engineer Scott Lewis
notices several leaking drums. He calls Tom
Treehorn, head of ABC's division of Chemical
Waste. Tom responds, " I will be right over
with a crew to bring the leaking drums over
here. " Scott points out that the law forbids
returning chemical waste to the " home " site.
Tom replies, " I know, but I don't have any
confidence in the off-site folks handling this.
We know how to handle this best. It might
not be the letter of the law, but our handling
it captures its spirit. "
Scott believes that Tom Treehorn is serious
about preventing environmental problems
- especially those that might be caused by
ABC. Still, he knows that the Environmental
Protection Agency will be upset if it finds out
about Tom's way of dealing with the problem;
and if anything goes wrong, ABC could
get into serious legal difficulties. After all, he
thinks, ABC is not a waste disposal facility.
What should Scott do at this point?
1.Tell Tom that he will inform Tom's superior
if Tom goes ahead with his plan.
2.Inform Tom that he will not interfere with
Tom's plan, but he will not help him with
it either.
3.Advise Tom not to go ahead with his plan,
but not interfere if Tom insists on going
ahead anyway.
4.Say nothing, and help Tom with his plan.
5. Other?
n
SCOTT JENKINS is a senior editor with
Chemical Engineering (Email: sjenkins@
chemengonline.com; Phone: 1-212-6214662).
Scott has been with the organizationsince
2009. Prior to joining Chemical Engineering,
Scott worked in various capacities as
a science journalist and communications specialist,
reporting and writing on a variety of
sectors, including chemical processing, biotechnology,
pharmaceutical manufacturing
Case #8. Chemical Waste Handling. (Used
with permission from Michael Pritchard,
Center For the Study of Ethics in Society,
and research policy. He also has industry experience as a quality
assurance chemist and research experience as a synthetic organic
chemist. Scott holds a bachelor's degree from Colgate University,
and a master's degree in chemistry from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill.
ChemiCal engineering www.Chemengonline.Com oCtober 2015
55

http://www.onlineethics.org http://www.wmich.edu/ethics http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics http://www.aiche.org/about/code-ethics http://www.acs.org http://www.icheme.org http://engineeringmastersonline.ohio.edu/articles-and-resources http://www.Chemengonline.Com

Chemical Engineering October 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering October 2015