Engineering Ethics Presentation“TV Antenna Collapse”

Group 17-Maputi Botlhole

Introduction to the Case

Circumstances of the disaster

• Antenna Engineering (AE) designed and manufactured a tower for television antenna.

• Riggers, Inc. (RI) was contracted for raising and assembling the tower.

• RI approved plans submitted by AE.• RI couldn’t raise final section of antenna due to

obstruction from microwave baskets.• AE refused RI permission to remove baskets.• RI made amendments, which AE refused to review or

comment on in order to not have any liability.

Violation of Ethical Code

Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public in the

performance of their professional duties.

What key ethical principles were involved?

• The bolt manufacturer sold bolts that did not meet the specifications as advertised.

• RI approved the amended plan without proper testing.

• AE refused to comment on the amended plan.

How could this disaster have been avoided?

• AE could have informed RI of previous companies having to remove the microwave baskets and that this would be absolutely not allowed.

• AE could have urged RI to consult a third-party engineering firm.

• AE could have looked at the original design with RI to ensure nothing was missed.

• AE could have accepted liability and looked at the proposed amendments.

• AE could have looked at the amended plans.

How could this disaster have been avoided…continued

• RI could delay the job until deemed safe.• RI could have tested the bolts before use.• Bolt manufacturer could have not sold weak

materials. – Had the bolt material been as strong as RI has

requested, the weight of the antenna would still have been too great for the bolts to handle.

– Stress in bolts was 7 times what the riggers though it would be

What are the ethical issues involved in your own project?

• Video security over a network• Physical hazard to user