TV Antenna Collapse

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Engineering Ethics - TV Antenna Collapse
Case Summary
A 6-ton antenna was being hoisted on top of an 1800 ft. tower, while the last part of the antenna was being hoisted. As a result, the bolts gave in and the antenna crumbled down. Antenna Engineering Inc. manufactured the antenna while a local company - Riggers, Inc. had been subcontracted to hoist the antenna. Riggers, Inc. used a crane that was already vertically mounted on the tower (“DIR-9012252”). However, the microwave sections on the last part of the antenna made it difficult to hoist the last portion. As a result, riggers Inc. had to change the hoisting design (“DIR-9012252”). Initially, Riggers Inc. had sought for permission

Foremost, Antenna Inc. were fully aware that Riggers Inc. comprised semi-skilled tradesmen who were not engineers by profession. Therefore, the subcontracted workers had no professional expertise in changing the design. In addition, Riggers Inc. engaged in a task that was beyond their area of competence. This led to the collapse of the tower that claimed human lives (DIR-9012252, 1992).
Prevention Measures
The accident pointed out a flawed hoisting process during the investigations. When the bolts failed and the tower crumbled, five people lost their lives. Preliminary investigations revealed extreme negligence on the part of Antenna Inc. In other words, there was a deliberate attempt to violate the fundamental canon of holding paramount the welfare and safety of the public. Generally, the disaster would have been avoided if the rules of practice for engineers had been adhered to. Initially, Riggers Corporation should have been sued for willfully mounting the insufficiently-sized bolts that could not support the makeshift lifting, or the project should have been temporarily suspended altogether. Perhaps, the disaster would have been avoided had Antenna Corporation fulfilled its part of not abetting or aiding the subcontractor’s unlawful