In roughly 300 words, provide an analysis of the ethicalscenario presented below. Be sure to explain how the ethical codesidentified in the problem relate to the scenario, as well as anyrelevant connections to other case studies, concepts, or ethicaltheories discussed in class. Finally, provide a clear and explicitanswer to the question raised in the scenario.
Scenario:
Engineer A is a seniorengineer for a firm overseeing a large construction project.Engineers Y and Z are employees of the firm responsible fordifferent components of the project, both reporting directly toEngineer A. While working on the project, Engineer Y observes anapparent safety violation in Engineer Z’s portion of the project.While the violation does not represent an immediate safety hazard,failure to address the issue could impact the overall safety of theproject once completed. Engineer Y does have the relevant expertiseto accurately identify the safety violation, but Engineer Y is notresponsible for the portion of the project directly. Nevertheless,Engineer Y reports the safety violation in their next meeting withEngineer A.
Later, Engineer Zissues a complaint against Engineer Y, claiming that Engineer Y wasoverstepping their authority by reviewing Engineer Z’s work when itwas not their responsibility to do so. Engineer Z claims thatEngineer Y should have mentioned the issue to Engineer Z first,before reporting to the violation to Engineer A.
Question:
Was Engineer Yethically permitted to report the safety violation to EngineerA?
NSPE Code ofEthics References:
II.3.a Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objectiveand truthful manner. a. Engineers shall be objective and truthfulin professional reports, statements, or testimony. They shallinclude all relevant and pertinent information in such reports,statements, or testimony, which should bear the date indicatingwhen it was current.
III.7. Engineers shallnot attempt to injure, maliciously or falsely, directly orindirectly, the professional reputation, prospects, practice, oremployment of other engineers. Engineers who believe others areguilty of unethical or illegal practice shall present suchinformation to the proper authority for action.
III.1.a Engineersshall acknowledge their errors and shall not distort or alter thefacts.
III.1.b. Engineersshall advise their clients or employers when they believe a projectwill not be successful.
