Ie 419

IE 419 – HW #6 “A Dangerous Business”

(Ethics and Societal Concern)

The videotape, "A Dangerous Business", shows the dangerous conditions and management practices existing in McWane Foundries. This will serve as good transition from productivity to safety and the need for OSHA. Comment on the situation by answering the following questions:

1) Do you think management practices regarding productivity overriding worker safety are justifiable? Why or why not?

Answer) As safety of worker is the first and foremost job of the employer, it is not justifiable. Human life is nothing you could put a price tag on so it can’t be traded against productivity. A healthy worker and manager that the company shares a mutual trust with is the most beneficial and productive work. So with over ridding productivity instead of work safety would result in less productivity and more money in compensation.

2) Do you think OSHA safety regulations and penalties are severe enough if an employer wishes to disregard the laws?

Answer)OSHA safety regulation is strong but implementation of those regulations is poor. Even after implementation of the regulation the fines for violator are not big enough for the employer that consider profit and productivity over human safety.

3) Should the penalties stop at mere fines or should someone in top management (e.g.plant manager) personally serve prison time for repeated, willful violations resulting in the death of one of his/her employees?

Answer) Death penalties are just mere hit on their wealth, so they seem untradeable for putting human life at risk. The violator of OSHA regulation, in conjunction with penalties should also serve some jail time based on the risk inferred by the workers. In some serious cases the informed and knowing managing personals should also serve life in prison for not taking required actions on time.

4) If you were an industrial and/or safety engineer in a WcWane plant, what would you do, especially if...