Engineering Disasters - Essay Example

Engineering Disasters Undeniably, engineering knowhow so far has immensely contributed to humanity’s wellbeing in diverseand numerous areas. This has enabled people to execute their tasks with heightened efficiency, speed and even producing varied products meant to support humanity’s survival. Some of these products include drugs, processed foodstuffs, vehicles and aircrafts. However, engineering knowhow despite its highly reputable breakthroughs evident in almost every economic sector has significantly resulted to inestimable losses. Mainly, these range from loss of human life to structural failures whereby the latter adversely affects the environment. Disasters occur due to humanity’s imperfections, errors, underestimation, design flaws, carelessness and ignorance despite the answerable authorities trying to eliminate them. This study seeks to highlight past examples of engineering failings or disasters that up to date remain unforgettable due to their incalculable losses. The Japanese Fukushima reactor meltdown incidence occurred due to manmade errors and carelessness (Girard 342). This is contrary to numerous claims especially from the government citing that the then coincidental earthquake exacerbated the incidence. According to the experts’ report, the government via its experts failed to utilize new and effective reactor designs. These could have ensured effective coolant regulation in the plant whose location was in a flood prone region. Hence, enable the nuclear plant to withstand the then severe earthquake’s pressure. Besides, the required designs would have prevented the subsequent Tsunami’s force, which severed the Fukushima’s power connections leading to the reactors’ overheating (Girard 342). Overheating led to the melting of reactors, which caused them to dispose their radioactive contents into the environment. This posed a hazard to both the inhabitants and other microorganisms in the region (Girard 342). Boston’s Big Dig Ceiling Collapse incidence presents another example of a structural failure (Harris, Pritchard & Rabins 235). The incidence occurred due to engineers’ negligence, whereas the local authorities failed to execute the necessary construction policies. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation report, Powers Fasteners Inc. knowingly supplied fast set epoxy instead of the standard fastening (Harris, Pritchard & Rabins 235). Fast set epoxy is a ceiling fastener used for short-term structures, which engineers used at the site despite being aware of the product’s “creep” and “deformation” nature (Harris, Pritchard & Rabins 235). Consequently, this inappropriate and erroneous use of materials prompted the 26 ton suspended ceiling concrete collapse onto a passing car and killing the driver (Harris, Pritchard & Rabins 235). Besides, in their report NTSB contend the site’s contractors together with their engineers contributed to the structure’s collapsing. Since, they failed to utilize their experience and knowledge to unveil the fastening product type early in advance. Therefore, in this incidence despite the legal authorities claiming Powers Company played a significant role, site’s engineers exhibited negligence and carelessness though not indicted by the law (Harris, Pritchard & Rabins 235). Engineers’ professional misconduct is also evident in the Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse incidence that occurred on 17Th July 1981 (Whitbeck 173). The incidence led to the demise of 114 people besides 200 others sustaining grievous injuries. Before the incidence’s occurrence, people were in a tea party whereas others standing on the two walkways. The two connected walkways collapsed onto the credulous people who were busy enjoying themselves whereas others holding individual conversations (Whitbeck 173). This incidence to date marks the worst structural failure in the US history in terms of human life loss and injuries sustained (Whitbeck 173). The investigators of this incidence cited the subcontracting company via its engineers failed to secure both bolts and rods as necessitated. This led to the development of flaws in the upper walkway because of excessive load that caused it to collapse upon the one below, which too failed and fell onto the people (Whitbeck 173). Charles de Gaulle Airport Roof Collapse presents another example of engineers’ negligence and utter carelessness while undertaking their activities (Doherty 35). The incidence led to the demise of four people besides destroying few vehicles belonging to the airport. In this incidence, experts contended the incidence could have claimed more lives if it occurred on a weekday. Investigation reports concerning this incidence unveiled numerous causes that led to the structure’s failure mainly emanating from subcontracting engineers’ carelessness (Doherty 35). Engineers failed to pay attention to the entire building’s structural design. This resulted to cracking in the blocks and concrete before collapsing, which several passengers witnessed when they saw dust falling from the roof. Besides, investigation reports cited that the engineers did not sufficiently buttress the structure during the reinforcement stage but hastened the entire process (Doherty 35). Consequently, this worsened the state because the weak structure did not have adequate sturdiness meant to support itself and the incorporated excessive load by other materials. Scientists have also cited Banqiao Reservoir Dam disaster was a manmade disaster (Proske 158). This is contrary to numerous people’s arguments who claim the then 24-hour heavy rain was the cause. Experts concerning this incidence claim the Dam’s initial engineers could have shunned this menace (Proske 158). This is via designing and erecting a dam capable of containing once-in-a-millennium flood. Since, its initial purpose was to contain the worst floods, which characterized the region besides generating electricity. This is ignorance especially on the part of structural engineers and related authorities. Consequently, the severity of this disaster led to the demise of 85,000 people within 24 hours besides 145,000 others dying of famine and diseases (Proske 158). In conclusion, world up to date has significantly experienced severe engineering related disasters, which have claimed numerous people’s lives. This is regardless of the field’s technological knowhow advancements, which if implemented well can evade these awful incidences. However, the disasters seem to augment with the advancing technology because of the experts’ negligence and carelessness. For instance, this is evident in the Charles de Gaulle Airport Roof disaster where experts cite the failure emanated from the structural engineers’ errors and carelessness. Mostly, these erroneous mistakes are avoidable if only both the engineers and related authorities implement design procedures as necessitated. In addition, disasters witnessed so far globally can be of use especially in the future while designing structures, for illustration, Banqiao Reservoir Dam (Proske 158). This encompasses rectifying mistakes initially committed by engineers while designing or erecting certain structures with the intention of strengthening them and shunning future losses. Work Cited Doherty, Sharon. Heathrow's Terminal 5: History in the Making. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Internet resource. Girard, James. Principles of Environmental Chemistry. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2013. Print. Harris, C E., Pritchard, Michael S. & Rabins, Michael J. Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. California: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Proske, Dirk. Catalogue of Risks: Natural, Technical, Social and Health Risks. Berlin: Springer, 2008. Internet resource. Whitbeck, Caroline. Ethics in Engineering Practice and Research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print. Read More