Engineering Ethics and Innovation: Public Safety and Disaster Relief

This essay delves into the crucial realm of engineering ethics, emphasizing the paramount importance of adhering to professional standards to ensure public health and safety. It explores the ethical responsibilities of engineers in the context of technical tasks and innovations, highlighting the duty of care owed to the public to avoid negligence. The essay examines real-world examples of engineering failures, such as the collapse of the Twin Towers and the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, to illustrate the consequences of ethical lapses. Furthermore, it analyzes the ideas of Fred Cuny, a disaster relief specialist, and his approach to infrastructure improvements and humanitarian aid, suggesting the application of his strategies for more effective disaster management and mitigation of losses. The essay underscores the significance of communication and risk assessment in preventing future disasters and upholding ethical standards in engineering practice, thereby contributing to economic stability and public well-being. The essay is available on Desklib, a platform offering study resources for students.

Running head: ENGINEERING INNOVATION AND ETHICS 1
Engineering Innovation and Ethics

ENGINEERING INNOVATION AND ETHICS 2
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Outline........................................................................................................................................3
Ethics for engineers................................................................................................................3
Lapses in engineering.............................................................................................................3
Analysis of Fred Cuny’s ideas...............................................................................................4
Recommendations..................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................5

ENGINEERING INNOVATION AND ETHICS 3
Introduction
It is of utmost importance for an engineer to comply with professional ethics in the
aspect pertaining to carrying out of technical tasks. The main aim of the essay is to present an
overview of the ethics to be followed by engineers with regard to the welfare of the health
and safety of the general public (Hess & Fore, 2018). The ideas of Fred Cuny, an eminent
disaster relief specialist would also be taken into account in order to overcome the challenges
as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Outline
Ethics for engineers
Engineers must adhere to ethics while undertaking technical activity or innovation for
the purpose of the ensuring of the health and safety of the general public. It further implies
that engineers owe a general duty of care to the general public thereby avoiding negligence
which would cause harm to the public to a huge level. Such an ethical aspect is applicable for
engineers since the 1970s. Earlier, engineers were governed by a code of ethics which
implied that an engineer owes a duty towards the respective employers and clients on a first
and foremost basis.
Lapses in engineering
Various kinds of destruction have been cased due to the defects in engineering. Such
destruction are connected to events such as collapse of the twin towers of Manhattan, New
York on September 11, 2001, Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and the collapse of the
Mississippi River Bridge at St Pails, Minnesota on 1st August 2007. All these events have
caused a huge destruction of property thereby leading to economic loss to a considerable
extent. The most notable of these events is the Hurricane Katrina which cased huge damage
to property and a loss of jobs to a huge level. As a result, panel was set up by the US Army
Corps of Engineers to review the issues in the aspect of engineering which led to the losses in
which it was determined and identified that there was a total failure with regard to the
foreseeing of the defects (Hoke, 2018). The failures are also inclusive of the lack of
communication between the engineers and the general public about the risks involved in the
hurricane and the level it may occur thereby the amount of damage it may cause.

ENGINEERING INNOVATION AND ETHICS 4
Analysis of Fred Cuny’s ideas
Fred Cuny was involved in various activities and tasks related to humanitarian
approach in relation to the providing of relief with reference to technical assistance as far as
the resettlement of people affected by natural disasters are concerned (Cuny, 1994). He
spearheaded the overhaul of infrastructure such as improvements in construction of shelters
and dwellings, refurbishment of roads and modernization of drainage systems.
It is imperative that the application of the ideas of Fred Cuny would play an important
role in the controlling of disasters in an efficient and effective manner since engineering
developments and relief measures as recommended by him would help in the humanitarian
approach towards the victims of the disaster. It is hereby suggested that the ideas of Fred
Cuny must be applied in terms of the management of various kinds of disasters. It would aid
in the resolution of issues caused by disastrous events to a great extent thereby resulting in
the desired solutions as far as adequate relief to the victims are concerned. It would also help
in the mitigating of the losses caused by events such as Hurricane Katrina in a better manner.
As a result, the ethics of engineers with regard to the ensuring of the health and safety of the
public in general would be followed and adhered to. The economic losses in terms of jobs
due to events such as Hurricane Katrina would also be reduced if the ideas of Fred Cuny
relating to technical relief in terms of disaster management are considered.

ENGINEERING INNOVATION AND ETHICS 5
References
Hess, J. L., & Fore, G. (2018). A systematic literature review of US engineering ethics
interventions. Science and engineering ethics, 24(2), 551-583.
Hoke, T. (2018). Engineers Should Use Their Knowledge and Expertise with Diligence and
Good Faith. Civil Engineering Magazine Archive, 88(9), 42-43.
Cuny, F. C. (1994). Disasters and Development. 2nd ed. London: Intertect Press.