ABC’s chemical waste is stored in a warehouse at an off-site location. While inspecting the warehouse, you notice several leaking drums. You call Tom Treehorn, head of ABC’s Division of Chemical Waste. Tom responds, “I’ll be right over with a crew to bring the leaking drums over here.” You point out that the law forbids returning chemical waste to the “home” site. Tom replies, “I know, but I don’t have any confidence in the off-site folks handling this. We know how to handle this best. It might not be the letter of the law, but our handling it captures its spirit.”
You believe that Tom Treehorn is serious about preventing environmental problems – especially those that might be caused by ABC. Still, you know that the environmental authorities will be upset if they find out about Tom’s way of dealing with the problem; and if anything goes wrong, ABC could get into serious legal difficulties. After all, you think, ABC is not a waste disposal facility.
Questions
- (E) What is the problem? – Use the OACETT Code of Ethics to identify which principles in the code apply.
- (G) What are the options? – List several alternative courses of action.
- (A) What are the positive and negative factors for each option? – For each course of action listed make a brief statement of its positive and negative features
- (D) Make a choice regarding the action that should be taken, and then defend it in a short statement.
