Engineering law

OACETT of ethics: Solving ethical dilemma Opex Global Consultants P. O Box 202 ORALAND, Ontario POT 2B0 October 28, 2013 Reilly M. Karful Apex Contractors P. O. Box 91 CHAPLEAU, ON P0M 1K0 Dear Sir, SOLVING ETHICAL DILEMMA USING OACETT CODE OF ETHICS The concerns you have shows willingness and desire to comply with OACETT code of ethics, which is quite commendable. Dante and Bull seem to have fallen intimidation to Bull, the town commissioner and you must use a lot of tact and caution in giving the direction of the project completion while ensuring professionalism. The tank completion is crucial for Whitesand’s compliance with provincial regulation, and the fact that the town is not affluent coupled with the fact that the project is behind schedule builds a lot of pressure on Bull who intends to use his position to spare humiliation. You have learnt of the NFC 820 a little late but that does not warrant the safety precautions to be overlooked. The matter at hand is by no means an easy one and in addressing the dilemma, you must be ready to separate work and relation attachment from what is ethical. Yvonne has brought to your attention the NFC 820 and from your investigation, it is clear that addressing the issue is paramount to uphold professionalism. The decision to be taken must comply with the OACETT code of ethics. You need a decision which will satisfy Dante relieving him from his worries while at the same time not adding further stress on him. The town commissioner also need to fell that there is more to ensuring compliance with provincial regulation and ensure that safety of his people is guaranteed and ethics are observed. The decision should further seek to empower Bobby to ensure that the NFC 820 is indeed observed . To solve this dilemma several brainstormed responses given will be evaluated using the code of ethics matrix and the best conclusion will then be clear. A total eleven responses were sampled and evaluated through the matrix to identify the good versus bad responses and give a recommendation. The first response was that you should accept the fire code’s ‘ okay’ statement and proceed with the project, which contravenes almost every provision in the OACETT code of ethics (OACETT code of ethics, n. d., p. 2-3). You admit not being fully experienced with fire codes but can see clearly that the room is not explosion proof; therefore, a step to keep informed is necessary in order to ensure that the project is safe. The response of taking the opportunity to learn is a good one if applied and will uphold the code of ethics, however conflicts are likely to ensue between you, and Dante, and the project would late. By calling in big guns and approaching the managing principal, a conflict of interest is likely to build and you would further lack adequate information as required by the code of ethics to support your arguments. The response that you comply with the code of conduct provides an ethical solution. However billing all the additional expenses to the project would be inappropriate (OACETT code of ethics, n. d., p. 3) since you had accepted the project without full knowledge and experience in the NFC 820. Fronting a paper challenge would indeed pressure Bull and Bobby to act responsibly but as far as the code of conduct is concerned, the response is just a bad one. The response to implement company preventive training is against the code of ethics and does not even guarantee safety, health, and welfare of the public as required by the OACETT code of ethics. This would be just a clever way to keep off any blame but it is in no way professional or ethical. Running toward the roar would be a good solution only if you manage to convince Bull why the project must be discontinued. Going to the source is also a good idea since the true information would be availed regarding the safety of the project. There was also a response that you lay the project on the line. This response does not consider the code of ethics; you had already accepted to carry out the project and therefore act professionally. Out of the responses given, the suggestions that you take the opportunity to learn and comply with the code of ethics are the best. My response would be similar: that you take every aspect of the code of ethics in consideration. This requires that you address your concerns with compliance with the NFC 820 by carrying out research and having experienced person like Yvonne prepare a report of the existing treatment room clearly stating why it does not meet the NFC 820 requirement. This would remove the risk of jeopardizing the safety and welfare of the public as well as ensure the environment is safe from imminent explosions and in that way you will have observed the most critical value of OACTET code of ethics. You must then prepare your report indicating why it is not appropriate to go on with the project and the cost involved in fixing the appropriate measures to comply with the NFC 820 against employing an alternative design. These matters must then be addressed with Dante and then with the town commissioner so that the final design will be safe to public and to the environment. This way you will have acted with integrity and conflict of interests will not suffice as the OACTET code of ethics requires. To solve the problem and ensure that the OACTET code of ethics requires that, you must uphold integrity and fairness, offer the best professional advice into the matter to both Dante and Bull, explain all the consequences imminent from the project, and ensure that the project is safe. My recommendation is that you comply with the code of ethics to the latter. This requires you to carry out further research and call for inspection by experienced bodies to ascertain the status of the existing treatment room with regard to the NFC 820. Once this is done, and it is indeed true that the current room has flaws then you must address the matter further with Dante and assist him to kick off his fears. A professional statement from the bodies consulted and from the fire department should then be obtained and both Dante and you arrange a meeting with Bull to offer all the professional advice regarding the matter. By having done your research well you will be able to offer the best professional opinion into as well as explain clearly all consequences that the project would bring as required by the code of ethics. Additionally it would be prudent for you to accept to cover part of the additional cost, as the OACTET code of ethics requires one to observe the principle of adequate compensation. This will take care of the fact that you had not fully observed the code of ethics by undertaking the project without finest details as required by the code of ethics and you will uphold fairness. This way the project is likely to be completed in time and with all stakeholders benefitting, as well as satisfy the OACETT code of ethics. I hope the information I have shared will be helpful to you and that you get an amicable solution. Yours Sincerely, Maxwel Brown. References Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (n. d.). Code of ethics and rules of professional conduct. Retrieved 28 October 2013, from http://www. oacett. org/page. asp? P_ID= 613