Research Article
Apr 1981
Ethical Issues in Risk Assessment
Publication: Issues in Engineering: Journal of Professional Activities
Volume 107, Issue 2
Abstract
Because of the exponential increase in technological growth and the increase in the subsequent options, the concept of risk assessment is receiving increased attention. Risk has been used for some time as a weighting function in engineering decision making; however, its corresponding role as a societal value weighting function has not received similar recognition. The ethical issues related to risk assessment have been virtually ignored. Such issues include the engineers' responsibility to: (1) Use their specialized knowledge and skill in making accurate estimates of risk; (2) provide an estimate of the precision of an estimated risk, as well as the estimated risk itself; (3) communicate with laymen and other professions so that they understand the role of risk in decision making; and (4) understand and respect the roles of other professions in risk assessment and value conflict settlement.
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Published In
Issues in Engineering: Journal of Professional Activities
Volume 107 • Issue 2 • April 1981
Pages: 93 - 104
Copyright
© 1981 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published in print: Apr 1981
Published online: Feb 11, 2021
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Authors
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Richard H. McCuen, AM.ASCE
Assoc. Dean, Coll. of Engrg., Univ. of Maryland, College Park, Md. 20742
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Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.