Ethical Responsibilities in Construction: Preventing Site Accidents

This report examines the ethical implications of construction site accidents, using the deadly Miami bridge collapse as a case study. It explores ethical and unethical behaviors contributing to such disasters, emphasizing the role of engineering ethics in preventing accidents and creating safer workplaces. The report discusses the importance of honesty, fairness, and adherence to safety regulations, while also addressing the consequences of unethical practices such as inadequate supervision and disregard for worker safety. It further investigates whether ethical behavior can predict or prevent industrial accidents, whether there are acceptable accidents, and how engineers can learn from mistakes to make the world safer. The report concludes by highlighting the significance of continuous improvement and the implementation of safety measures to minimize risks in the construction industry. Desklib provides a platform for students to access this and other solved assignments.

CONSTRUCTION SITE
ACCIDENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Case study: Deadly bridge collapse in Miami.................................................................................2
Overview:....................................................................................................................................2
Causes:.........................................................................................................................................2
Ethical implications of disaster........................................................................................................4
Ethical behaviour:........................................................................................................................4
Unethical behaviour and associated consequences:....................................................................5
Engineering ethics...........................................................................................................................7
Will ethical behaviour predict or preventing industrial accidents?.............................................7
Are there acceptable accidents that we have to live with?..........................................................7
Can engineers learn by mistakes?................................................................................................8
Can engineer make the world safer?............................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Miami bridge collapse......................................................................................................2
Figure 2: Close up of bridge collapse..............................................................................................5
Figure 3: Incident learning system..................................................................................................9

Introduction
Construction industry is developing within the competitive market and is highly dangerous as it
can face much accident that impact in crucial manner. Proper commitment and retention of the
personnel will help in reducing the hazards and accidents that will improve the working
environment. Construction site accidents compared to all the other sectors are major that can
occur in highest numbers. It might occur in the form of falls, getting struck by object, electronic
short circuits, pipefitter accidents, etc. Report will present some of the ethical and unethical
behaviour of the disaster that might influence on the lives of the people. In addition, engineering
ethics will support to improve the conditions of the people that are prone with disaster. Report
will conclude about application of engineering ethics that can help to make conditions safer.
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Case study: Deadly bridge collapse in Miami
Overview:
This incident is one of the construction accidents that occurred during newly installed bridge
connecting the Florida international university with the city of Sweetwater where workers were
working on both the nodes of the bridge and road was left open where the cars were mainly
rushing. The engineers with the support of private contractor did not consider it as the safety
issue. The bridge was almost 950 ton bridge after it fell. Workers were trying to adjust on one
rod on the north side of the before the structure crumbled the ground. The roadway was not
closed while the work was being performed Miami incident, (2018). It collapsed with killing six
people and more and authorities responsible for the construction area were looking out for the
victims. It has observed that subcontractor fail to properly design the construction system. It is
now raised fear in minds of engineer and contractor regarding giving answers to the public who
are actually suffered.
Figure 1: Miami bridge collapse
(Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/workers-adjusted-bridge-tension-fatal-
collapse-article-1.3888586, 2018)
Causes:
During the bridge construction, engineering firm hired the school that has left warning with the
voicemail that it might crack on the north side of the bridge. Due to improper attention and mail
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was remained unrevealed after the immediate aftermath of the disaster many of the doubts were
raised on the unconventional technique used for building a bridge. However, workers need to
take care of working to avoid themselves from falls. This majorly impact on health conditions of
the people that faced major problems of daily life. In addition, the main cause of death in
construction occurs when inadequate fall or no protection is provided. It caused a downfall in
trust of the authorities with the engineers and contractors However, engineers pointed out that it
is just wrong to point construction building Florida Bridge collapse, (2018). It impact of lives of
the people that observed 10 people were immediately taken from the construction site.
Authorities failed to control the risk of falls for carrying out the routine activity. Department of
installation are seriously tensed as flaws of installation were found with lose cables. Engineers
need to plan strong health and safety conditions that will ensure promoting safety of health and
conditions at the workplace.
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Ethical implications of disaster
Ethical behaviour:
It is the suitable kinds of moral principles that include enhancing honesty, fairness, dignity,
diversity and critical protection of individual rights. Ethical behaviour in the workplace means
conducting business in such a manner that is effective for owners, employers and customers. It
also includes avoiding the negative behaviour and improving ethical performances and
understanding Treviño et.al. (2014).
One of the factors of ethical behaviour includes inclusivity that means forming relationships
between people and avoiding differentiation on the basis of sex, caste, religion, etc. Having
professional manner in the workplace will maintain positivity within the environment. Another
factor includes Honesty that includes dealings that occur between management and workers. It is
required for management to understand the needs of the workers. In case of deception and lying
might disturb the ethics of the workplace Ma’Ayan, Y. & Carmeli, A., (2016).
Legality factor in ethical behaviour includes following certain rules and regulations that will lead
to promote rights of the workers. For this, workers need to be well aware of the policies along
with gaining support of the authorities. Disaster cure need protection of rules and regulations
with building suitable safety equipments and actions of the workers to take health and safety
conditions from the workplace. Last factor of ethical behaviour that can overcome cause of
disaster includes Disclosure of problems and situations by providing training that can cause
danger to workers Anderson et.al. (2016). in such case, major harmful substances or things must
be discontinued for health conditions of the workers.
Ethical implications of disaster are structured with taking serious actions for improving the
constructed related accidents. For example to overcome the problems of falls in the workplace
disclosure of danger areas and safety regulations are needed to be directed by the organisation.
Emergency crew at the construction site loaded victim into the rescue vehicle that denotes
dignity of workplace promoting the care about the conditions of the workers Carrington et.al
(2014).
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Figure 2: Close up of bridge collapse
(Source: Miami bridge incident, 2018)
Unethical behaviour and associated consequences:
It includes different individuals that are harmed by the improper attention of the contractor or
engineers that are destroying dignity of the workplace. Disaster related unethical behaviour
includes improper follow of rules and lack in supervisions of the work of the workers that is
harmful for health conditions of the people. It has been clearly established that links between bad
ethics cause negative consequences. People working at Miami have observed the conditions of
falls and serious injuries that might leave people to get unemployed for more than a year
(Ordinary bridge collapse, 2018). However, for this, rescue team at Miami is practicing good
examples of sensible management of health and safety risk in the workplace and also rescue dogs
were handled to search for anyone under bridge collapse.
Working with dangerous workplace and unethical behaviour causes feeling of stress, anxiety,
depression, burnout, heart disease, blood pressure, etc. It might harm the relationships between
personal and organisational values that affect the well being (Terec-Vlad et.al. 2015). The main
consequences of accident prone areas lead to increase in worker turnover, absenteeism,
termination of future projects and disturbance in trust upon the authorities and departments.
Negative consequences result in stated values of the organisation is in accordance with the actual
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activities of the organisation (Singh & Twalo, 2015). The statement was revealed that people are
heartbroken by the loss of the life of family members and workers must step back to continue the
work in near future. However, engineers are still trying to analyse the actual problems of the
incident and will plan actions to avoid such activity to happen in future.
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Engineering ethics
Will ethical behaviour predict or preventing industrial accidents?
Engineering ethics are the set of guidelines and principles that can be effectively applied to the
principles of engineering. Engineers are highly skilled and qualified that will support to improve
the harmful conditions of the workplace. Every management of the organisation require support
of professional engineer that can produce various suggestions from improving environment of
the workplace MacDougall et.al. (2015). Ethical behaviour means developing satisfaction of the
workers related to workplace conditions.
It is believed that it is difficult to prevent the industrial accidents but support of engineers can
helps to predict the industrial accidents from which necessary actions could be taken. Primary
reason for predicting includes educating workers in future that can help in preventing injuries.
For this reward is one of the suitable behaviour that will improve the behaviour of the workers.
Workers increased level of motivation and safety mindset will help to prevent accidents to
greater accidents.
Values, motivation and positive personality will help employee to remain suitable throughout the
workplace. Best training programs and disclosure of all the safety measure will overcome the
traits of risk activity. Management is responsible to design programs that will identify about the
personality traits suitable for the job Hacker, S., (2017). However, positivity in personality,
behaviour and satisfaction of workers will help to overcome the industrial accidents. In addition,
plans can be created prior to process of production that includes supervision of the workplace
that can cause accidents and standardised equipments can be placed for overcoming industrial
accidents.
Are there acceptable accidents that we have to live with?
Disasters can occur with poor management of the workplace, human error and also technical
error. Industrial accidents take place in each and every sector where workers face permanent
disability or death. It is necessary for organisation to have aspiration towards zero accidents.
However, motivation to the workers must be done on the basis of zero accident policy that will
help to reduce the amount of accidents or no accidents can be observed. Some of the accidents
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are acceptable that occur from natural disaster or technical errors Nica, E., (2016). Machinery is
dynamic and that can stop working while working and cause accidents in the workplace.
Accidents happening at the workplace are not acceptable as each and every accident can be cured
with taking suitable actions. However, preventing accidents and safety is engineer first ethical
responsibility. However, accidents must be accepted but strict actions need to be taken to make a
workplace with zero accidents. Auditing needs to be done for applying safety standards and
practices.
Can engineers learn by mistakes?
Engineers are that skilled and qualified that identifies situations of the workplace and take
suitable actions for overcoming the impact in future. It is also necessary for learn from mistakes
with following the process of incident learning system. It is one of the continuous improvement
cycles that include engineer to identify the response, make necessary report, investigate about the
actual problems, take corrective actions and learn from the mistakes. After taking quality of
actions it is necessary for engineers to share with the organisation and ensure that it might not
happen in future Conlon, E., (2015).
It is also necessary for follow business systems that include learning from the incidents and
following the cycle on continuous process. In addition, it is necessary for engineers to recall the
incidents on regular basis that will avoid workers to repeat the mistake again. Engineers can
learn from mistakes by preparing reports that can be communicated among the workers for
preparing them to avoid the next coming accidents. It will be significant for business to employ
essential standards and practices that will help in uniforming the practices that can be followed to
avoid the critical accidents Tilley, N., & Laycock, G. (2016). For example, time series has been
utilised to forecast the accidents in facing risk in coal mines of Turkey. Engineers need to modify
that establishing process with help in effective use of equipments that are working in order. Also
internal communication must be that stronger that will help in establishing clear lines within
different levels and also departments.
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Figure 3: Incident learning system
(Source: Learning system with incidents, 2018)
Can engineer make the world safer?
Engineer is specially appointed to handle the entire task of the business and complete the entire
project with no risk and accidents. Engineers have the special quality of learning from the
workplace and have adequate knowledge to take necessary actions regarding improving
conditions of the workplace environment. With emergence of technology there is highly modern
machinery and equipments that are developed by scientists and engineers that can be
implemented within the workplace Ingre, D. & Basil, R., (2016). With development in
generations, positive changes can be observed with development in virtual systems.
This technology can act as substitute for human efforts and create more satisfaction of the
workers within the workplace. Different steps can be followed by the engineer that can help to
make world safer with overcoming accidents that include:
 It is necessary to identify the risk and eliminate the risk by taking serious actions. This is
the responsibility of engineer to understand the risk and act accordingly as that risk might
not occur in future
 Substitute can be effectively used to replace the efforts of the labour with implementing
standardised machinery and monitoring on regular basis.
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