Suspected Hazardous Waste
Alex is an engineering student employed for the summer by
Environmental Engineering, a consulting firm. RJ, the engineer
who supervises Alex, directs Alex to sample the contents of
drums located on the property of a client. From the look and
smell of the drums, Alex believes that analysis of the sample
will show hazardous waste in the drums. Alex knows that if the
material contains hazardous waste, there are legal requirements
for the transport and disposal of the drums, and that federal
and state authorities must be notified.
Alex informs RJ of the likely contents of the samples and
asks what to do next. RJ instructs him to report only that
samples have been taken, and not to do the analysis. Since the
client is a amjor one for Environmental Engineering, RJ
proposes to report to the client only where the drums are
located and that they contain questionable material, and to
suggest that they be removed.
Note that it is much more expensive to dispose of hazardous
waste than conventional waste Many states have laws requiring
environmental engineers to report any evidence of a "release"
of hazardous materials. (Any presence of hazardous material in
other than its intended placement for use and storage counts as
"release".)
Does RJ fulfill an engineer's professional
responsibilities by informing the client only of the
presence of the drums and withholding more specific information
on their contents?
What can and should Alex, a student and a summer hire, do in
this situation?
--adapted from NSPE Case No. 92-6
Current NSPE Code of Ethics
An earlier version may have been used in this case.
Original Case and BER Judgement