Ethical
Implications
n
When is someone entitled to impose
a risk on another in view of a supposed benefit to others?
n
Consider the worst case scenarios
of persons exposed to maximum risks while they are reaping only minimum
benefits. Are their rights violated?
n
Are they provided safer
alternatives?
n
Engineers should keep in mind that risks
to known persons are perceived differently from statistical risks
n
Engineers may have no control
over grievance redressal.
Conceptual
difficulties in Risk-Benefit Analysis
Both
risks and benefits lie in future
n
Heavy discounting of future because
the very low present values of cost/benefits do not give a true picture of
future sufferings.
n
Both have related uncertainties but
difficult to arrive at expected values
n
What if benefits accrue to one
party and risks to another?
n
Can we express risks &
benefits in a common set of units?
n
e.g. Risks can be expressed in one
set of units (deaths on the highway) and benefits in another (speed
of travel)?
Many
projects, which are highly beneficial to the public, have to be safe also.
