Gilbane - a Small Town

The small town of Gilbane is the average farmers' community. The town's main source of income is in the crops that harvest and, most importantly, in the sludge they produce. That rich fertilizing sludge that the town calls Gilbane Gold is what makes the town function, and it is now being threatened by Z-Corp., a computer producing company. Z-Corp is unknowingly dumping toxic concentrations of arsenic and lead into Gilbane's wastewater supply, the same supply from which the precious Gilbane Gold is produced. David Jackson, Z-Corps' Environmental Engineer, spots the problem but fails to address the issue accordingly and loses his job. Jackson had the capability to step in and stop what was going on but failed to do so because he lacked experience and cared more about having a job rather than doing his job. This paper demonstrates how Jackson lacked the professionalism it takes to do his job, how he violated several ethical codes, and finally how a responsible engineer could have avoided the scandal.

David Jackson's title at Z-Corp was "Environmental Engineer," a respectable title for an experienced professional. But that was the problem when it came to David situation; he didn't act like a professional maybe because he was inexperience. A real professional is respected and plays an important role within the American society. A professional is highly skilled and educated in his discipline, and therefore his opinions and claims within his area of expertise should not be taken lightly. The professional has the authority to make pivotal decisions because he has the knowledge necessary to support his decision. David Jackson was the professional at Z-Corp; he had the authority to stop production as needed. It is uncertain if David had the knowledge and schooling needed to earn the title as an environmental engineer, but yet what is not questionable is his lack of experience. He had to convince his superiors at Z-Corp, Diane Collins and Phil Port, that the spew of toxins into the waste water was more than a technical problem and needed to be addressed immediately, but he failed to do so. His inexperience to apply his professional authority failed him. An experienced professional would have convinced Diane and Phil that this problem is a technical one and that there is a technical solution for it. That's where the professional demonstrates his authority by composing a formal presentation of the issue at hand, demonstrating his knowledge and skills within his discipline. Jackson lacked these skills, undermining his qualification as a professional.

As an Environmental Engineering professional, one has a set of moral values to follow in order to ensure the safety and well-being of others. David is, in a certain sense, in charge of the town of Gilbane, and if the waste water supply becomes contaminated, the town will ultimately hold him accountable. He is aware that the concentrated toxins being dumped into the waste water have exceeded the city's limits, especially given that Z-Corp plans to increase production fivefold. As the engineer for Z-Corp, David had an ethical code to abide by but failed to do so. The National Society of Professional Engineers' Code of Ethics states, "Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public." When David found out that Gilbane's health was in danger, he should have reacted accordingly. He did the right thing informing Diane and Phil about the situation, but they quickly turned him down. Nevertheless, as soon as David's concerns were denied, he should have acted upon Rule 2-1.a: "If engineers' judgment is overruled under circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify their employer or client and such other authority as may be appropriate." He should have contacted some form of higher authority that could have been able to step in and handle the situation if he felt like he was incapable of doing it himself. Instead, he unwillingly continued at Z-Corp, allowing production to increase the output of toxins being dumped into the water. When the press came looking for answer about what was going on at Z-Corp, David gave them false information in violation of Rule 3-3: "Engineers shall avoid all conduct or practice that deceives the public." Eventually, David did tell the press the truth and disclosed all the information that Z-Corp was hiding which cost him his job. The tasks that are placed