CS 481 Group 2 Jonathan Rile Brandon Strickland

 A company named Antenna Engineering designed a new TV antenna to be put up.  They hired Riggers, Inc. to hoist the antenna.  Riggers, Inc. started putting up the antenna, and then realized there was an issue with the last section of the antenna.  Microwave baskets on the last section interfered with the lifting cables.

 Once Riggers, Inc. realized this would be an issue, they contacted Antenna Engineering.  They asked if they could remove the microwave baskets and then re-attach them once the last section was attached.

 Antenna Engineering had this issue in the past, and allowed the company to do what Riggers, Inc. was asking.  The microwave baskets were not re-attached correctly in the prior case, costing Antenna Engineering a large amount of money to repair.  They declined, and blamed Riggers, Inc. for not paying enough attention to the plans before accepting the job.

 Riggers, Inc. decided to create a makeshift extension that would allow the lifting of the final section.  After they designed the extension, they reached out to Antenna Engineering again to ask if a engineer would review the design of their extension since they had no professional engineer on site.  Antenna Engineering denied, did not want to be held liable if something went wrong.

 Something did indeed go wrong: the stress in the bolts was 7 times what the design called for.  The extension failed, and caused the death of 5 technicians.

 Rules of Practice 1: Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.  Antenna Engineering did not review the extension.  They also did not allow the alternative of temporarily removing the baskets.  Riggers, Inc. did not have a professional engineer review the design.

 Rules of Practice 4. Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.  Antenna Engineering had an inadequate design that did not account for the microwave baskets, even after having the same issue with the previous antenna.

 Rules of Practice 2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.  On the other hand, Riggers, Inc. did not review the plans for the antenna carefully enough to realize that there was a problem with the microwave baskets.

 Antenna Engineering could have designed the antennas so there would not be an issue with the baskets.  Antenna Engineering could have allowed Riggers, Inc. to temporarily remove the baskets.  Riggers, Inc. could have reviewed the plans more carefully.

 Riggers, Inc. could have had a professional engineer review the plans even after being denied by Antenna Engineering.  Antenna Engineering could have referred Riggers, Inc. to a capable engineer for review of their plan.

 Designed the antenna so there would not be an issue with lifting it.  If there still was an issue, put human safety over money.  Allow alternatives, such as removing the baskets temporarily.  Refer Riggers, Inc. to a professional engineer.

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