Safety & Risk in Engineering - Lecture 6

Safety & Risk in Engineering

• Lecture 6 of Introduction to Engineering and Ethics course
• Course code: 1400111011
• Instructor: Asst. Prof. Mete Öğüç
• Focuses on ethical and professional responsibilities of engineers regarding risk assessment and management.

Responsibility to Assess and Manage Risk

• Risk is assessed and managed from different perspectives (engineers, public, government regulators).
• Legal implications are also considered.
• Engineers define risk as the product of probability of harm and magnitude of harm.
• Traditional approach focuses on quantifiable harms like economic losses and loss of life.

Design Codes, Operational Rules, and Innovation

• Design codes provide proven rules for safe designs, preventing unacceptable risks.
• Operational and maintenance rules are crucial for risk management during engineering system operation.
• Innovation can increase risk, necessitating careful identification and management of new risks arising from new solutions.

The Public's Perspective on Risk

• The public tends to perceive unfamiliar risks as more dangerous than familiar risks, even if probabilities are similar.
• Voluntary risks are often considered more acceptable than involuntarily imposed risks.
• Free and informed consent, as well as equitable distribution of risk, is essential for public acceptance.

Communicating Risk to the Public

• Use clear and simple language, familiar terminology, to ensure public understanding.
• Acknowledge limitations in risk assessments.
• Recognize the importance of social and ethical considerations beyond monetary cost-benefit analysis when determining acceptable risk.

The Engineer's Liability for Risk

• Tort law addresses harm caused by negligence, requiring a preponderance of evidence.
• The standard of proof in tort law is lower than the standard of evidence in science or criminal procedures.
• Engineers need good records and adherence to the standard of care for defense against liability claims.

The Capabilities Approach to Risk Assessment

• Wellbeing is defined by individual capabilities.
• Identify capabilities that a disaster might affect.
• Measure the impact of hazards on individual wellbeing.

Becoming a Responsible Engineer

• Awareness of risk assessment complexities and diverse perspectives.
• Effective communication with the public, acknowledging concerns, and providing expert information.
• Protecting people from harm, especially when risks are not consented to, or unjustly distributed.

This quiz covers Lecture 6 of the Introduction to Engineering and Ethics course, focusing on the ethical and professional responsibilities of engineers in risk assessment and management. It discusses various perspectives on risk evaluation, legal implications, and the importance of design codes and operational rules for safety.