BP Oil Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico - Case Study Example

Case One: BP Oil Disaster in the Gulf of MexicoBP Oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico case involves an oil spill in the deep underwater well. The disaster coincidentally struck just as a time when BP Oil Company had been shortlisted with other two oil companies for the US Government’s Safety Award for Excellence, which was to be presented at the Offshore Technology Conference. The case of oil spill is not the first scenario of oil leakages in the underwater; ExxonMobil had the worst case scenario in 1989 famed as the Alaska Exxon Valdez spill (Geoffrey, 2010).

Ethical issues in this case identifiable include failure for other companies to learn from earlier case scenarios like the ExxonMobil case, and construct great preventive polices to avoid future spills. The people who have worked in this industry for 30, 40 years have a great role to play to avoid other leakages. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. In addition, companies should put preventive measures such that when such leakages happen, they do have massive effects on the natural system.

The wells could as well be placed elsewhere other than in the deep waters. In fact, the size of the spillage does not matter, but what is of concern is where they happen and when they happen. The oil pipes should not be constructed in areas that in the event of a leakage, massive damage occurs. For instance, the BP Oil Disaster happened in a very vulnerable area and at a time when there are too much winds blowing it. In fact, the greatest issue in this case is the detrimental effect that this oil spill is going to have on the economy and ecology of the country.

According to Geoffrey (2010), there are fears that the massive oil slick will have appalling effects on wildlife and birds along the Louisiana Coast and it could ruin one of the world’s fisheries, besides that it could also ruin vital wetlands. America’s Gulf State reputation is also under universal excoriation. The slow response to this catastrophe could cause diverse effects on the company, operating on the belief that such a disaster could never happen shows a lack of professionalism. This case of arrogance and neglect saw measures not being laid down.

The characters thus operated on the principles of assumptions, and lack seriousness from all fronts.ConclusionVictims and other groups have sharply accused the company of lacking preventive and more strict measures for disasters, and taking the issue for granted at the initial stages of the disaster. In fact, accusations are coming from all level, including from President Obama to local people. They see a company that is operating against what they have been advocating for; stricter safety measures.

The solution to such a disaster would be to place the oil wells in areas where when an oil leakage takes place, only minimal damage takes palace. For instance, they could be placed in the deserts or lowly populated areas away from the waters, wildlife, birds and vegetation. ReferenceGeoffrey L. (2010). Fears over Gulf of Mexico Spill Eco-Disaster. Retrieved from .