Engineering Ethics & Prevention of Trench Wall Collapse
Engineering does not have a single uniform system, or standard, of ethical conduct across the entire profession. Ethical approaches vary somewhat by discipline and jurisdiction, but are most influenced by whether the engineers are independently providing professional services to clients.
Consider the issues raised by engineering plans for a trench. After a trench is dug, workers go down into the trench, performing whatever work is necessary, such as laying pipe or telephone lines, welding pipe, or installing valves. If the walls of the trench are not supported, there is the possibility that the walls will collapse and trap the workers in the trench. Historically, there have been between 100 and 300 people killed in the United States every year due to trench collapses. with so many documented deaths a year due to this process trench digging raises alot of issues such as.
Where does the responsibility of the engineer end and the responsibility of the construction site contractor begin? Should engineers allow construction workers to endanger their lives by not using trench shielding on-site? (Trench shielding and "trench boxes" place supports that help to keep trench walls from collapsing, but are difficult to install or use in some situations.) Should construction management be held responsible for ensuring that trench boxes are used? What is their responsibility? If social responsibility comes before legal liability, what would you do in a similar situation, given that the OSHA regulations make optional the use of trench shielding boxes, but not other safety measures, such as making the wall of the trench slope to a specified degree.
The ethical engineering approach must consider alternatives. Consider the soil and determine the type of support required from the tables provided in the OSHA regulation. Hire an engineer to design a suitable support system. Go to a trench wall manufacturer and use their tables for determining the proper support system. Furthermore, the goal of engineering is designed to keep workers and the community safe.