Question.4228 -
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PHPWord body {font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;} * {font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11pt;} a.NoteRef {text-decoration: none;} hr {height: 1px; padding: 0; margin: 1em 0; border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #CCC;} table {border: 1px solid black; border-spacing: 0px; width : 100%;} td {border: 1px solid black;} h1 {font-size: 20pt;} h1 {margin-top: 20pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;} h2 {font-size: 16pt;} h2 {margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;} h3 {font-size: 14pt; color: #434343;} h3 {margin-top: 16pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;} h4 {font-size: 12pt; color: #666666;} h4 {margin-top: 14pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;} h5 {color: #666666;} h5 {margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;} h6 {color: #666666; font-style: italic;} h6 {margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;} .Normal Table {table-layout: auto;} .Title {font-size: 26pt;} .Subtitle {font-size: 15pt; color: #666666;} .header {} .footer {} body > div + div {page-break-before: always;} div > *:first-child {page-break-before: auto;} @page page1 {size: A4 portrait; margin-right: 1in; margin-left: 1in; margin-top: 1in; margin-bottom: 1in; } Introduction On 15th January 1919, in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, the Great Molasses Flood occurred which was even known as the Boston Molasses Disaster where a large storage tank filled with 2.3 million US gallons of molasses weighing approximately 13,000 short tons burst, and the resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets. This assignment will hence focus on evaluating the general engineering and ethical concerns, considering the disasters as a consequence of poor engineering, corporate negligence, and ethical failure. This case study will explore the ethical concerns surrounding the failure and its implications for engineering practice. Engineering and Ethical Concerns The main causes of the Boston Molasses Disaster were inadequate planning, testing, and supervision (Mark Rossow, 2022). The Purity Distilling Company built the tank, which was hurried into operation without first being examined by a certified engineer. According to reports, stress tests were never carried out and the steel utilized was too weak to sustain the weight of the molasses. According to professional associations like the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ethical engineering practice mandates that safety be the top consideration when designing any project. According to Sohn (2023), the design of the steel tank structure was flawed as it was designed to hold 2.5 million gallons of liquid and flawed rivet design was another problem where stresses were too high on the rivet holes where cracks first formed. Similarly, corporate negligence even played a significant role in this disaster where residents reported leaks and strange noises coming from the tank before the collapse considering the structural flaws; however, the company chose to paint the tank brown instead (Mark Rossow, 2022). This choice violates ethical obligations by putting private gain ahead of the general welfare where The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethics, in particular, highlights the responsibility of engineers and businesses to uphold integrity and safeguard public safety (Boatman et al., 2024). These unethical decisions have disastrous results. In addition to the terrible death toll, the collapse resulted in significant property damage and long-term community economic impacts. Stricter construction rules and the necessity that all future projects be planned and approved by certified engineers are just two of the major regulatory reforms brought about by the accident. Conclusion A key case study in engineering ethics, the Boston Molasses Disaster highlights the perils of ignoring ethical obligations and safety. It emphasizes how crucial professional integrity, ethical decision-making, and regulatory monitoring are to engineering projects. Engineering standards are still influenced by the lessons learned from this disaster, which emphasize that engineers have to put the public's well-being first and uphold moral standards in all facets of their job. References Sohn, E. (2023). Why the Great Molasses Flood Was So Deadly. History TV. https://www.history.com/news/great-molasses-flood-science Boatman, E. M., Luthy, K., Miller, C. B., & Pierrakos, O. (2024, June). The Virtues of Engineering Practice: An Investigation of Professional Codes of Ethics in Engineering. In 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. Mark Rossow, P. E. (2022). The Molasses Flood of 1919 and Other Ethical Failures in Engineering.More Articles From Engineering
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