Relationship between Ethical Decision-making and Risk Management of Engineers and Other Stakeholders

- A Case Study of Failure Cases in Japan -

抄録

Engineers have a duty and responsibility to create products and processes to improve and enhance the quality of life of the public. Business companies or organizations also assume social responsibility for the public. Unfortunately, some accidents have been reported in Japan such as concealment of motor vehicle recalls, mass food poisoning caused by milk, train derailment accidents and architectural forgery. They arose from errors in decision-making made by engineers and/or other stakeholders as well as from imperfections in the organizational systems. In addition, a severe accident occurred at a nuclear power station in 2011. This accident was caused by a major earthquake and a huge tsunami. However, it should be discussed why this accident was not prevented from the viewpoints of technology and risk management. Public health and welfare has suffered due to such accidents. As most engineers are employees, these accidents are not only the responsibility of engineers but also of other stakeholders in business companies, such as managers and entire companies. Engineers did not accomplish the public mission in these cases. Business companies took inadequate actions in risk management and social responsibility. In addition, the government could not supervise the nuclear power station sufficiently before the severe accident occurred. The public determines whether it is willing to accept the risk or not. Therefore, risk communication is required for all of stakeholders, especially for a high-risk technology. Engineers, business companies and the government should disclose risk information and should communicate with the public. They should also discuss with the public how to use a technology for ethical decision-making.