Case 4:

 Chemical A or B?

William J. Frey

Part I

 A chemical engineering student is working with a local manufacturing firm as a part of her university's co-op program.  For several years the firm has been using chemical A as a catalyst in their manufacturing process.  Chemical A is carcinogenic, although studies supporting this claim have only recently been published.  Without taking elaborate safety precautions, workers handling chemical A would be exposed to sufficient amounts to risk cancer.  Moreover, the disease takes up to 20 years to manifest itself. 

The company has tried to implement safety procedures and controls, but workers routinely ignore them.  The safety procedures slow down the manufacturing process, and the workers frequently cut corners to meet quotas.

 The co-op student knows of another chemical, B, which also serves as a catalyst in this manufacturing process but is not carcinogenic.  Nevertheless, chemical B is considerably more expensive.

Decision Scenario:

 A meeting has been called to refine and possibly reengineer the company's manufacturing process.  Along with the student are four other group members: a senior engineer, a manager, an industrial engineer who supervises the manufacturing process, and a marketing specialist.  What alternatives of action are available to the engineering student?  Evaluate them.

Part II

 She decides to bring the issue up at the meeting.  She sites the recently discovered dangers of Chemical A and the tendency of the workers to violate safety procedures in using it.  She then discusses the research on Chemical B: although B is more expensive than A, it is much safer and is as effective a catalyst as A in the manufacturing process.  Her argument meets with stiff resistance, especially from the manager present at the meeting.  He tells her that her job is to help streamline the manufacturing process and nothing more; safety, he tells her, is the responsibility of the human resource department and the legal staff.  The two engineers present say very little; they are intimidated by the manager and will follow his lead.  The manager asks if using chemical A violates OSHA regulations; the two engineers present say that to the best of their knowledge, it does not.  The manager concludes by proposing that the company continue using Chemical A.  He asks if there are any further comments.

Question:

 What should the co-op student so?  What are the alternatives of action available to her?  How do these stand up to the various ethical tests presented?