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CASE STUDIES FOR ETHICAL ENGINEERING Bill Spizuoco, P.E. International Wire Group Camden, New York November 13, 2017
CASE STUDIES FOR ETHICAL ENGINEERING
Bill Spizuoco, P.E.
International Wire Group
Camden, New York
November 13, 2017
Does Study of Ethics Influence Behavior?Definition: Ethics are moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.
Penn State Smeal College of Business: faculty Steven Huddart and Hong Qu
In 2014 Department of Accounting researchers found that managers tend to become more honest after observing honest peers and more dishonest after observing dishonest peers, related to a desire to obey social norms. [Penn State News, Sept. 30, 2014]
When the social norm became less ethical, people lowered their own ethics. [Harvard Business Review: Dec. 16, 2016]
Leaders in an organization, especially multiple leaders, who exhibit ethical behavior and intervene to halt unethical behavior exert significant influence on the overall positive ethical behavior of an organization.
[Downe, Cowell, Morgan, May 12, 2016, ASPA, Public Admin Review.]
Rule-Based Ethics – Are these Good?
• Think about wrong or morally bad laws and rules. Is it always the case they should be obeyed -- until changed? What if they are so bad that obedience is a greater moral transgression than disobedience!
• Two reasons Rule-Based ethics are problematic:(1) even if you have a full rule set right for every situation, you are unlikely to know or remember all, or know which one to apply in a given situation.
(2) In a formal rule-based system if a rule is mistaken, you still must follow it.Bad rules are still rules!
America Society of Civil Engineers Principals of Professional Conduct
ASCE (1st of 7 principals)
• 1) Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties.
Flint, Michigan Drinking Water Background
• Population: 98,000; 41% of residents are below poverty line
• Median Income: Flint ~ $25 K; MI ~ $ 50 K
• 2011: State took over Flint finances (water supply fund $9M in red)
• April 2014 City reduced expenses by switching water supply source from Detroit to Flint River. At that time a 2 year pipeline project was underway to bring Lake Huron Water to Flint.
• April 2015 Receivership ends
The DEQ has Primary enforcement authority in Michigan for the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act…
Flint Drinking Water Crisis Facts
Crisis Facts
1. > 16 Months – time Flint River used as water supply source.
2. Darnell Early and Jerry Ambrose: Governor appointed managers who reported directly to Governor.
3. Federal Drinking Water Limit for Lead: 15 Parts Per Billion (PPB).
4. Maximum Lead Concentration found in Drinking Water: 13,500 PPB.
5. USEPA Min. Lead Conc. in Water Classified as Hazardous Waste: 5000 PPB.
6. Did Crisis end upon switch back to Detroit Water? NO!
7. Prior to 1967, City used Flint River as drinking water source.
Missed Warning Signs!• April 2014 After delay to beef up chlorine disinfection, City Emergency Manager
switches water source to Flint River
• Aug. 14th Water has fecal coliform (chlorine conc. upped). Boil water notice 6 days.
• Sep. 6th Coliform returns. City flushes lines, add more Chlorine.
• Oct. GM stops using City water, citing concern high chlorine content will corrode engine parts. City loses $400 K in water revenue.
• Jan 2, 2015 City warns resident of high THM content in water, but call it safe to drink for all but elderly and children.
• Jan 12th DWSD offers to waive $4M reconnect fee, City declines citing concern over $12M annual increase in water fees.
Escalation• Feb. 26, 2015 USEPA informs MDEQ it has detected “dangerously” high
levels of lead in drinking water at home of Lee-Anne Walters. Concentration found is 104 PPB, drinking limit is 15 PPB.
• Mar 18th Walters drinking water follow-up result: Lead is 397 PPB.
• Mar 23rd Flint City Council votes 7-1 to switch back to Detroit water. Gov. appointed Emergency Mgr. Jerry Ambrose overrules Council calling vote “incomprehensible” because costs would skyrocket, and “water from Detroit is no safer than water from Flint.”
LEAD Warning
June 24, 2015 USEPA issues memo, “High Lead Levels in Flint" warning City is not providing corrosion control treatment to mitigate the presence of lead in drinking water. Memo cites Va. Tech test of Walters tap water with 13,200 ppb lead. Notes water with 5,000 ppb is classified as Hazardous Waste.
The Apparent End?• Aug. 17, 2015 MDEQ orders Flint to optimize water supply corrosion control
after State testing in first 6 months of 2015 shows elevated lead levels.
• Sept. 8, 2015 Va. Tech issues preliminary report indicating 40% of Flint homes have elevated lead levels.
• Sept 24, 2015 A group of doctors urge City to discontinue use of River water for drinking after finding elevated lead blood levels in Flint children.
State regulators insist water is safe.
• Oct. 8, 2015 MDEQ announces 3 Flint schools tested positive for dangerous levels of lead in the drinking water.
• Oct. 16, 2015 Flint switched back to Detroit water.
Crisis Reactions• Dec. 14, 2015 City of Flint declares a State of Emergency.
• Dec. 29, 2015 Dan Wyant, Dir. MDEQ resigns.
• Jan. 5, 2016 Gov. Snyder announces State of Emergency in Genesee County.
• Jan. 13, 2016 Gov. Snyder announces a Legionnaires Disease outbreak occurred in Flint between Jun ‘14 - Nov ’15. 87 cases result in 10 deaths.
• Jan. 21, 2016 USEPA criticizes State's slow response. An EPA administrator who had been notified of Flint's high lead levels in June 2015, resigns.
• March 23, 2016 Gov. appointed panel concludes State of Michigan is responsible for crisis due to decisions made by “environmental regulators” (emphasis added).
Indictments• Apr. 20, 2016 criminal charges (6 counts) filed against 3 Government employees:
• Mike Glasgow, Lab and Water Quality Supervisor
• Stephen Busch, District Water Supervisor (MDEQ), and
• Mike Prysby, District Water Engineer.
• July 29, 2016 Criminal charges filed against 6 current and former MDEQ employees.
• December 20, 2016 Four officials charged with felonies:
• Gov. appointed City Emergency Managers (reported directly to Gov.) Darnell Early and Jerry Ambrose charged with multiple 20 year felonies.
• City DPW Dir. and Utilities Administrator charged with false pretense and conspiracy.
The FixJan. 24, 2017 -- MDEQ 6 month study: City water lead levels below Fed. drink limit.
March 17th -- USEPA awards Flint $100M to upgrade drinking water infrastructure.
March 28th -- Fed judge approves $97M settlement. State agrees to replace water lines from curb to house in 20,000 Flint homes by 2020.
June 14th -- MI Attorney General Bill Shuette announces that 5 State officials, are charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with 12 deaths from Legionnaire's Disease outbreak associated with the Flint water crisis.
• Among charged is Nick Lyon, MI Health and Human Services Dir.
• Dr. Eden Wells, State Chief Medical officer, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, misconduct in office, obstruction of justice and lying to an investigator.
AG Shuette announces no charges to be filed against Gov. Rick Synder.
Autonomous Cars (Self Driving)
Autonomous Vehicle USE is speeding toward us!
• May 2016 Insurance Information Institute (III) study – 55% say no to riding.
• 3.5 million by 2025, 4.5 million by 2030. [US annual sales 17 M/yr]
• 2009 – 48 driver deaths/1E6 vehicles, 2011 – 28 driver deaths/1E6 vehicles. Safety Technology is reducing fatalities.
• 2014 V2V communication approved by Federal Agencies.
• July 2016 – 1st fatality in FL between Tesla and tractor trailer truck.
• Multiple Studies: Autonomous vehicles are safer than human drivers!
NHTSA 5 Autonomous Levels
Level O – Driver in control of brakes, steering throttle, motive power - always.
Level 1 – Driver has control but steering or acceleration controlled.
Level 2 - one automated system (steering or acceleration/ deceleration) uses collected driving data. [adaptive cruise control; lane-centering] Driver is disengaged f/physical operation (no hands/feet) but READY to take control.
Level 3 – Full control of all safety-critical functions “transitioned” between driver and vehicle, depending on driving conditions. <DANGER!>
Level 4 – “designed to perform all safety-critical driving functions and monitor roadway conditions for an entire trip." Restriction apply! Fully autonomous. You sleep, it drives – ALWAYS!
Source: National Highway Transportation Safety Admin., preliminary statement of policy for automated vehicles
What are the Issues of Autonomous Cars?
• Will Public buy them if computer logic defines conditions where the occupants are sacrificed to save pedestrians?
• Should the most vulnerable be provided the most protection?
• Computers act without emotion or hesitancy: Will we regard autonomous car reactions similarly to those of humans making split second decisions?
• What about the transition period? Perhaps most danger of all.
• Rand Corp> Study found property damage and collision claims for owners will drop, but liability for manufacturers will rise.
• Major technology risks: cyber security and software reliability.
Autonomous Vehicles: WHO? When?
• Audi, Ford, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota, Volvo
• Tesla, Google, Uber
• By 2030: IHS study of manufacturers predicted self driving “only” cars.
• By 2030: Univ. of Minnesota scholar also says by 2030.
• By 2050: Prediction ALL vehicles on roadways – AUTONOMOUS.
• Introduction already underway as more “features” added to new models.
Can Humans Alter Earth’s Atmosphere?
•Earth Diameter is 7,917.5 miles.
•Thickness of Earth’s atmosphere: ~ 62 miles.
Review TEST
1. According to ASCE (and many other disciplines), what are the 3 responsibilities Engineers are required to protect in the 1st principle of Duty in the profession?
• Hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the public.
2. What are three flaws of rule-based ethics?
• You may not remember all rules, know when to apply which, and if flawed you still must obey.
3. What was the key ethical lapse for engineers in the Flint water crisis?
• Failure to intervene/insist that corrosion control was critical.
4. What key liability shift will occur as autonomous vehicles become the norm?
• Manufacturers will incur increase and vehicle owners a decrease.
Bill Spizuoco, P.E.International Wire Group
Camden, NY
(315)245-3800
