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From: rjnoe@riccb.UUCP (Roger J. Noe)
Newsgroups: net.columbia,net.space
Subject: Re: Re: Morton-Thiokol Engineering Claims
Message-ID: <646@riccb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Mar-86 18:12:46 EST
Article-I.D.: riccb.646
Posted: Tue Mar 11 18:12:46 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Mar-86 07:23:41 EST
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Organization: Rockwell International - Downers Grove, IL
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Xref: watmath net.columbia:2626 net.space:6391

> I want to point out that as an engineer the most you can do when 
> management overrules you is to document your findings.  This gives 
> you protection if something goes wrong and places the blame 
> on the managers who overruled you.
> 
> You can not go to the press unless the manager's judgement is so bad
> that you are sure disaster will occur.  (Not probably occur, WILL occur).

As a professional engineer, I think this is rather irresponsible and
unethical.  If a professional has grave misgivings about a company project
that could significantly endanger the public safety or welfare, then the
professional is morally obligated to go outside the company if she has
exhausted all internal means of having herself heard.  This includes (but
is not limited to) contacting the press and law enforcement agencies.
Note that the engineer does not need to be publicly identified; newspapers
and television stations will happily accept any information of this type
"without attribution".  Moreover, such organizations will zealously try to
prevent release of such information under First Amendment principles.
--
Roger Noe			ihnp4!riccb!rjnoe