Chemical Engineering October 2015 - 52

General ethical questions for the survey
1. In the last 6-10 years, do you think have
people in general:
a. become less ethical
b. become more ethical
c. remained the same
2. Have you ever done some-thing unethical
at work that could (or did) have a
harmful effect?
a. Yes
b. no
3. do you know of anyone at your company
who has done something you consider
unethical?
a. Yes
b. no
4. Have you ever felt " punished " (loss of a
promotion, job or pay increase) for making
an ethical, but unpopular decision in your
workplace?
a. Yes
b. no
5. do pressures at work (time, profitability)
ever cause you to seriously think about
doing something you would consider ethically
wrong?
a. Yes
b. no
6. How would you rate the following
groups in your workplace on their handling
of ethics? (1 = very ethical; 2 = average; 3
= somewhat unethical)
_____ technical staff
_____ upper management
_____ human resources
_____ administrative staff
7. Ethical decision-making is always good
for business.
a. Strongly agree
b. Somewhat agree
c. neither agree nor disagree
d. Somewhat disagree
e. Strongly disagree
8. Social responsibility and ethics are symbiotically
related
a. Strongly agree
b. Somewhat agree
c. neither agree nor disagree
d. Somewhat disagree
e. Strongly disagree
9. do you have any general comments that
you would like to add?
been told about the surprise inspection,
without revealing her source
5.Other
Case #4. Insider information (from previous
2007 and 1987 CE issues)
One day, Ursula, a process engineer in an
acrylonitrile plant, runs into a former classmate
at a technical society dinner. Her friend
reveals that he is now a regional compliance
officer with OSHA and, after several drinks,
confides, much to Ursula's surprise, that
there will be an unannounced inspection at
Ursula's plant on the following Tuesday.
Ursula believes that unsafe practices are
too often tolerated in the plant, especially in
the way that toxic chemicals are handled.
However, although there have been many
small spills, no serious accidents have occurred
in the plant during the past few years.
What do you think Ursula should do?
1.nothing, so as to not violate the trust of
her friend.
2.nothing, so that the consequences of the
inspection will bring about improvements
in the plant's safety practice
3.Inform the plant safety director of the impending
inspection, knowing that the director
is only likely to patch things up for
the inspection.
4.Anonymously inform OSHA that she has
52
Case #5. Vendor Incentives. (Used with
permission from Michael Pritchard, Center
For the Study of Ethics in Society, Western
Michigan University. Originally created with
support from the National Science Foundation
(NSF) grant no. #DIR-8820837.)
Scott Bennett is the engineer assigned
to deal with vendors who supply needed
parts to the Upscale Company. Larry newman,
sales representative from one of Upscale's
regular vendors, plays in the same
golf league as Scott. One evening they go off
in the same foursome. Sometime during the
round Scott mentions that he is really looking
forward to vacationing in Florida next month.
Larry says his uncle owns a condominium in
Florida that he rents out during the months
he and his family are up north. Larry offers
to see if the condo is available next month
- assuring Scott that the rental cost would
be quite moderate. Larry tells Scott he can
rent his uncle's condo for $100 a week. " My
uncle, " Larry says, " gets nervous when he
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